The Yankees' offense came alive in extra innings, scoring five in the 10th to defeat the Angels, 6-3, on Wednesday night in Anaheim.
In the 10th, the Yankees had the bases loaded with two outs for Austin Wells. The backstop, who pinch-hit earlier in the game, hit a single past the diving first baseman to drive in two runs. Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Ben Rice followed up with RBI singles.
New York outhit the Angels, 12-4, but the four straight hits in extras were the most impactful as the Yankees (80-60) pulled to 3.5 games of the Rays, who lost earlier in the day, for the top spot in the AL East.
Here are the takeaways...
-The Yankees could not get to Reid Detmers in this one, hitting into some bad luck on multiple occasions, but finally broke through in the fourth. With runners on first and second and two outs, Amed Rosario lined a ground-rule double into the stands in right field to score the team's first run.
Against Detmers, that was all they could do. The veteran left-hander allowed six hits, but just the one run across seven innings while striking out eight batters.
-On the other side, Cam Schlittler was dealing. The Cy Young frontrunner allowed just one hit through six innings and retired 17 straight Angels before Vaughn Grissom took the right-hander deep with two outs in the seventh, smashing a 95 mph cutter over the center field wall just out of the reach of Spencer Jones (408 feet).
Despite the solo shot, Schlittler strengthened his Cy Young credentials, pitching eight innings of one-run ball. He allowed one run on two hits, no walks, while striking out nine batters, all on 99 pitches.
-Jones got the start in center field instead ofGrisham, but the rookie went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
-Aaron Boone used three pinch-hitters in this one, with Wells and Grisham coming through, combining to go 3-for-4 with three RBI. Luis Garcia Jr. was the third pinch-hitter and went 0-for-2 as he was benched for Paul Goldschmidt, who went 2-for-3 against the left-handed starter.
-David Bednar bounced back from his rough outing on Monday by striking out three in the ninth and allowing just one hit. With the five-run lead, Michael Fulmer came on in the 10th to wrap up the game, but the veteran right-hander didn't make it easy. He allowed a two-run home run to Moises Ballesteros but got the final two outs to end the game.
Game MVP: Austin Wells
Wells' single put the Yankees ahead for good.
Highlights
Amed Rosario opens the scoring! pic.twitter.com/OCxXsRBtTI
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 3, 2026
AUSTIN WELLS DELIVERS!
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 3, 2026
YANKEES LEAD IN THE 10TH! pic.twitter.com/Inb6SYaJog
CODY BELLINGER TACKS ON AN INSURANCE RUN pic.twitter.com/dweSVAv0S0
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 3, 2026
TRENT GRISHAM MAKES IT 5-1! pic.twitter.com/OXPd8CalEL
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 3, 2026
ANOTHER ONE!
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 3, 2026
Ben Rice's turn! pic.twitter.com/gKWBupm0et
What's next
After an off day, the Yankees head to San Diego for a three-game series with the Padres starting Friday. First pitch is set for 9:40 p.m.
The Yankees will send Max Fried (4-4, 2.80 ERA) to the mound while the Padres will send Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.66 ERA).