Ben Rice hit 2 Homeruns, including the game winner in the bottom of the 8th to break a 2-2 tie and send the Yanks to a 3-2 win in the final game of the season — NY’s 8th straight win.
But the Blue Jays were crushing Tampa 13-4 at the same time, so they win the AL East on the tiebreaker and NY heads to the 3-game wild card series against Boston.
On a beautiful, warm (80 degrees) Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium — game-time start for the entire Major Leagues: 3 pm.
Aaron Judge won the batting title with a .331 average — 20 points better than 2nd place Bo Bichette, and Cal Raleigh did not break Judge’s American League HR record — finishing with 60 — increasing Judge’s odds to win the regular season MVP.
But now it’s on to the post season where the Yanks have home-field advantage in a 3-game set vs the Red Sox.
Boone’s Thoughts
“Tough day to hit with the shadows,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “But just a really good ballgame. Great atmosphere. Kind of odd watching the scoreboard like that, but pretty neat for the sport. Excited we could finish it off like this, probably have a day off, and here we go.”
On Judge, Boone said: “Batting title. I know it’s meaningful to him. I just gave him a ball and said, Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew, Wade Boggs — you’re in that company now. Pretty cool just to see him finish the way he did.”
On Ben Rice, Boone said: “Really since the game before he hit the Grand Slam and had the 3 hits in Baltimore — he didn’t have a great game swinging the bat — then made some adjustments; and since that point — this last week of games — it’s been a lot of really great at bats, loud contact, many barrels — he’s been doing his thing.”
NY finishes 94-68, in a 1st place tie with Toronto; Baltimore ends at 75-87.
1. Rice HR in 1st Puts NY Up 1-0
The Yanks and Orioles took the field at Yankee Stadium at 3pm — same time for all games across baseball. NY needed to win to have a shot at the Division Title, and hope that Toronto lost.
The Orioles threw their #2 pitcher, the very tough Kyle Bradish, who had shut down the Yanks a week ago in Baltimore.
But Ben Rice — the 2nd batter of the game — used his lightning quick bat to rip a 1st-pitch, 95-MPH fastball 421 feet to center for a 1-0 Yankee lead.
Ben Bomb ? pic.twitter.com/rgbnubvpC1
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2025
2. Gil Very Good — Sans 2 HR’s in 4th
Meanwhile Luis Gil took the mound for NY in this important game — and was very good. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 1st and 2nd. Tampa jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Toronto — and there was excitement in the air.
But by the 2nd inning word came across the scoreboard that Alejandro Kirk had hit a Grand Slam for Toronto, and they led their game 5-1.
The Yanks marched forward — Gil facing the minimum batters in the 3rd — walking Dylan Beavers to start the inning, but watching as Austin Wells gunned him down trying to steal 2nd with 1 out.
Awesome pick by Jose Caballero to tag the runner out trying to steal pic.twitter.com/fCzom1dtUG
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 28, 2025
With 1 out in the top of the 4th however, Gil allowed back-to-back homers by Jake Westbrook (414 feet to center) and Gunnar Henderson (355 feet to right center) — and just like that Baltimore was up 2-1.
Going back-to-back ? pic.twitter.com/qbyQ4LNau1
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) September 28, 2025
3. Judge, Belli, Stanton Tie It vs Bradish in 4th
The Yanks went right back at Bradish in the bottom of the 4th — 3 consecutive singles to start the inning — by Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton — for a run and 2-2 tie.
Big G delivers ? pic.twitter.com/tGAW4OnWVv
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2025
With 1st and 2nd nobody out, Bradish got tough and struck out the next 3 batters, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Ryan McMahon.
4. Rice Defense Bails Yanks Out in 5th
By the 5th, word came across the scoreboard that Tampa had pulled to within 5-4 against Toronto. Renewed hope.
Gil walked Dylan Beavers leading off the top of the 5th, then got consecutive groundouts to 1st which moved Beavers to 3rd with 2 outs.
Jackson Holiday then hit a grounder deep behind 2nd that Anthony Volpe made a fine play on, his throw to 1st wide but Ben Rice made a terrific stretch-catch on for the out, saving a run.
Nice job by Ben Rice to snag this Volpe throw at first pic.twitter.com/yUyj7E1vX9
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 28, 2025
Gil was relieved for the 6th in a 2-2 tie. His line: 5 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 K’s, 2 walks in 79 pitches. He finishes the year 4-1 3.32.
5. Cruz Gets In and Out of Trouble
Fernando Cruz pitched the 6th and got in immediate trouble — allowing a single and a walk to lead off the inning.
He got a groundout — force-out at 2nd — to put runners at 1st and 3rd, then got Adley Rutschman to hit a dribbler toward the mound that Fernando fielded himself and flipped to Austin Wells for the quick tag and out at home of Jake Westbrook — Wells ‘just’ getting Westbrook on the leg before he touched home. The defensive play of the game.
Nice play by Fernando Cruz to get a big out at the plate pic.twitter.com/3pBxOggDM3
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 28, 2025
With 2 outs, and runners on 1st and 2nd, Ryan Mountcastle hit a shot into left center that Trent Grisham made a fine running catch on at the warning track looking directly into the sun. PHEW.
6. Weaver and Devin Hold Court
But by the bottom of the 6th word came across that Toronto had increased their lead to 8-4 over Tampa on another Alejandro Kirk homer. Downer.
Luke Weaver pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th in the 2-2 game — strikeout, strikeout, groundout. Looked good.
Devin Williams pitched the top of the 8th — allowing a leadoff single to Jackson Holliday but then getting foul out, fielder’s choice groundout (runner out at 2nd), and groundout to McMahon at 3rd. Devin looked good.
7. Rice HR in 8th Puts NY Up 3-2
Bradish — who is coming back from Tommy John surgery — left after 4 innings, and Oriole relievers Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer, and former Met Rico Garcia shut the Yanks out in the 5th through 7th.
Rico Garcia was still in for the 8th when Ben Rice led off the inning by ripping a 2-2, 95-MPH four-seam fastball 401 feet to the bullpen in opposite-field left for a 3-2 Yankee lead!
Twice for Rice! ?? pic.twitter.com/x2jbaDrPww
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 28, 2025
By that time word came across that Toronto put a 5-spot on the board in the 7th and was leading 13-4 — so the Yanks were now doing their best to finish the season tied for 1st record wise.
8. Bednar Gets Tough with Runner on 2nd
David Bednar came in for the save in the 9th — but walked leadoff batter Adley Rutschman. Next batter Ryan Mountcastle grounded out, moving Rutschman to 2nd as the tying run.
Bednar however reared back and struck out Dylan Beavers and Colton Cowser swinging for the old ballgame.
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