Late Inning Lightning: 3 HR’s in 8th Vault Yanks! NY 4 Washington 2

July 12, 2026 paperbacklou 2026 0
Trent Grisham 2-run HR in 8th vaults Yanks into 3-2 lead.

The Yanks were down 2-0 all afternoon until the 8th inning, when Ryan McMahon hit a solo HR, Trent Grisham hit a 2-run HR to put NY ahead 3-2, and Paul Goldschmidt hit an insurance HR for a 4-2 Yankee win over the Nationals on a HUMID Saturday afternoon in DC.

Cam Schlittler allowed 2 solo HR’s in the 1st then laid down shutout ball into the 7th — a gritty performance as he worked around baserunners the first 4 innings before getting into gear and ripping through the 5th into the 7th.

Brent Headrick relieved Schlittler with 2 outs in the 7th and promptly got into a hairy situation — allowing 2 infield singles and a walk to load the bases. In the game’s turning point, Headrick went 3-2 on Rays’ cleanup hitter CJ Abrams, then threw 3 straight fastballs, two fouled off by Abrams but the third one — thrown high and out of the zone — striking him out swinging. It allowed NY to stay within 2-0 and set up their big inning at the top of the next frame.

“His experience now is really valuable for him,” said Boone about Trent Grisham. “You’ve heard him talk about that last year and this year; knowing how to think. Think: I think that’s very powerful. I think he’s very confident and convicted in what he wants to do, and disciplined to go do it.”

NY improves to 53-42 and remain 4 behind Tampa. Washington falls to 48-48, 7 back of Atlanta in the NL East.

1. Schlittler Allows 2 Solo HR’s in 1st — then Shuts ‘Em Down

It was a warm, cloudy, HUMID afternoon in DC — temps in the low 90s — and as the game began, Rickie Riccardo on the radio said if batters get the ball into the air, it will go out.

And sure enough James Wood — Washington’s 6’6 rightfielder and leadoff hitter — hit one into the air and out — 388 feet to right center for a 1-0 Nationals lead. It was his 27th HR of the year (he is now slashing 27-63-.278, .973 OPS).

Two batters later, Curtis Mead, Washington’s 1st baseman — hit one into the air and out — also measured 388 feet but to left center — for a 2-0 Nationals lead. It was Mead’s 16th HR of the year.

They would be the only runs Schlittler allowed — although he worked around baserunners the next few innings.  Schlittler:

  • Worked around a leadoff walk in the 2nd, getting a doubleplay.
  • Worked around a leadoff walk in the 3rd, getting the next 3 batters on groundout, line out, line out.
  • Worked around a leadoff single, and consecutive 2-out walks in the 4th — loading the bases — but got Nunez to pop out to shortstop. PHEW.
  • Allowed a 2-out single in the 55h before striking out CJ Abrams to end the inning.

Schlittler then threw a 5-pitch 6th inning and was at 91 pitches. Boone kept him in for the 7th, and Schlittler struck out both catcher Drew Milas and 2nd baseman Nasim Nunez on 4 pitches each.

Schlittler was Rolling — but was at 99 pitches with James Wood (who had the HR off Schlittler in the 1st) and the top of the lineup coming up so Boone pulled him — bringing in Brent Headrick — who proceeded to get into a bases loaded situation, then get out of it — as described above (and below).

2. Proulin Opens — Mikolas Shuts NY Out for 4

On the other hill, Miles Mikolas was scheduled to start the game but in a last-minute switcheroo, Washington opened with PJ Poulin, a 6’1 lefty. He walked Amed Rosaio to start the game, and Ben Rice followed with a single so NY was cooking with 2 on and nobody out.

But Poulin struck out Grisham and Goldschmidt and got Cody Bellinger to line a SHOT to shortstop.

Poulin got the first 2 outs of the 2nd, and then the 37-year-old, 6’4 righty Mikolas came in — and churned through the Yankee lineup for 4 shutout innings.

Mikolas allowed a baserunner in each inning — but not much more.

  • Anthony Volpe got an infield single in the 4th, but was thrown out trying to take 2nd when the ball got away from the 1st baseman.
  • Ben Rice and Trent Grisham got consecutive singles to start the 6th, but Mikolas got Goldschmidt to hit into a double play.

3. Staten Islander Cosgrove Does Well

Staten Islander Tom Cosgrove — out of Farrell High School and Manhattan College — relieved Mikolas with 2 outs and the runner on 3rd in the 6th, and got Cody Bellinger to fly out to right.

Cosgrove stayed in for the 7th and pitched a 1-2-3 shutout inning — striking out Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe with his 70-MPH sweeper and occasional 87-MPH fastball.

4. Headrick Gets In & Out Of It

Brent Headrick relieved Schlittler with 2 outs in the 7th and promptly allowed an infield single to James Wood, an infield single to Luis Garcia Jr.. and a walk to Curtis Mead to load the bases.

Headrick then went 3-2 on CJ Abrams, then threw 3 straight fastballs, two fouled off by Abrams but the third one — thrown high and out of the zone — striking him out swinging. PHEW !!!!!!!!!!!!

5. Late Inning Lightning Vaults Yanks

6’7 Cuban righty Orlando Ribalta came in to pitch the 8th for Washington, and got Austin Wells — pinch hitting for Ali Sanchez — to foul out to start the inning.

But lefty Ryan McMahon ripped a 416-foot HR to right center for a 2-1 game. The Yanks were finally on the board.

Next batter Ben Rice walked — and Boone pinch-ran Jose Caballero for him — going all out for a tie, taking out the red-hot Rice and looking for Caballero to steal 2nd — with the 6’7 Ribalta known to have issues holding runners.

Washington countered by bringing in former Yankee Clayton Beeter — the 6’2 righty now 27 years old.

And boy did Boone and the Yanks win that chess move — as Trent Grisham hit the 3rd pitch he saw from Beeter — a 95-MPH fastball — for a 398-foot HR to right and 3-2 Yankee lead!

Another look — this time showing the massive amount of Yankee fans in attendance in DC:

Next batter Paul Goldschmidt hit a 2-2, 96-MPH fastball 395 feet to left center for a 4-2 Yankee lead.

The Yanks weren’t done — next batter Cody Bellinger doubled to right off Beeter — sending Beeter to the showers; the Nationals bringing in Matt Krook, who got the last 2 outs of the inning — and pitched a shutout top-of-9th as well.

6. Cruz Filthy in 8th

Fernando Cruz pitched the bottom of the 8th and his splitter was FILTHY — as he got line out, pop out, and groundout for a 1-2-3 inning.

7. Bednar Another Non-Agita Save

Manager Aaron Boone brought in David Bednar for the save — even though Bednar had pitched 2 innings the night before.

Bednar got the first 2 batters (strikeout and groundout) before allowing a single to James Wood. With the tying run at the plate, Bednar got Luis Garcia Jr. to ground out to shortstop for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401816116

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