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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Inside the Yankees’ postgame clubhouse, splitting a series Thursday felt like winning a key battle.
And their six-run third inning was like wandering out of a desert.
“I don’t know if exhale is the right word, but it definitely boosts our morale heading into the next series,’’ said Ben Rice, after the Yankees’ 12-4 afternoon victory over the first-place Rays.
“We’ve just got to keep that momentum going, keep that energy going.’’
Rice rediscovered his power stroke at Tropicana Field, belting four home runs – two on Thursday, including a two-run shot in that dam-breaking inning, with seven hits.
But the big moment belonged to Ryan McMahon, who engaged Drew Rasmussen in a 12-pitch at-bat, fouling off five straight pitches before lashing a game-tying RBI double to right.
By the time it ended, the Yanks had sent up 10 batters, taken a 6-1 lead, and knocked out a true nemesis in Rasmussen, with a 0.89 ERA vs. the Yanks over his first nine appearances.
“We were not all the way out of that one,’’ said McMahon, with the Yanks needing to stitch together a bullpen game with seven pitchers. “But it felt good to have an inning like that.’’
In fact, they “needed one where we’re stacking at-bats, had good energy against a really good baseball team.’’
That Rays team still has a four-game lead over the Yanks, who’ll need a four-game sweep when they meet again in September at Yankee Stadium to avoid losing the season series.
But something seemed to change in that third inning, when the Yanks finally strung together some patient, professional at-bats against a tough opponent.
Even a foul, flyout by the epically struggling Austin Wells served to move McMahon up 90 feet, allowing him to score on a Trent Grisham single, the first of five straight hits.
In a 1-for-25 slide, Wells would later hit his first home run since May 22, and the Yanks were – at long last – on their way to a breezy victory.
“The great thing about it, it was everyone,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, starting with Max Schuemann’s leadoff double in the third.
And the Yanks still tried to keep a positive tone while the ceiling was caving in.
“Let’s go double-double here,’’ McMahon told Schuemann, before his at-bat.
“Funny how it works,’’ said Schuemann, getting the start in left field, with the struggling Cody Bellinger starting at first base for the first time in 2026.
“Nice to see us…keep the foot on the gas and keep adding on runs,’’ said Schuemann, who credited “a good’’ pregame hitters meeting, where “some of the guys spoke up’’ as a spark.
Coming off a shutout loss Wednesday, and without drawing one walk in two games – both losses – the Yanks drew some inspiration from Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s words.
“Good to hear him speak and to hear what he was thinking,’’ said Schuemann, without delving into specifics. “Feel like it really brought the guys together and feel it needed to be said.’’
Late Wednesday night, a weary Boone admittedly ran out of words about the Yanks’ malaise, with 15 losses in their last 20 games, averaging 2.8 runs per.
And there's no Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton on the horizon to boost a lineup that's been in a desperate spiral.
Thursday morning at the Trop, GM Brian Cashman said Judge (rib fracture) would be re-imaged next week, hopefully providing a map for his ramp up to baseball activity. Stanton has been nursing a new calf strain since last month, and has just begun a light running program.
Still, “we’re obviously better than how we’ve been playing,’’ said Schuemann, who especially felt Chisholm (sac fly, 3rd inning) and Jose Caballero (RBI single, 3rd inning) brought something more to the table Thursday.
"We just rode with that energy the whole game.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Can this be the spark that finally lights the Yankees' lineup?
Continue reading...
And their six-run third inning was like wandering out of a desert.
“I don’t know if exhale is the right word, but it definitely boosts our morale heading into the next series,’’ said Ben Rice, after the Yankees’ 12-4 afternoon victory over the first-place Rays.
“We’ve just got to keep that momentum going, keep that energy going.’’
Yankees' breakthrough inning
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Rice rediscovered his power stroke at Tropicana Field, belting four home runs – two on Thursday, including a two-run shot in that dam-breaking inning, with seven hits.
But the big moment belonged to Ryan McMahon, who engaged Drew Rasmussen in a 12-pitch at-bat, fouling off five straight pitches before lashing a game-tying RBI double to right.
By the time it ended, the Yanks had sent up 10 batters, taken a 6-1 lead, and knocked out a true nemesis in Rasmussen, with a 0.89 ERA vs. the Yanks over his first nine appearances.
“We were not all the way out of that one,’’ said McMahon, with the Yanks needing to stitch together a bullpen game with seven pitchers. “But it felt good to have an inning like that.’’
In fact, they “needed one where we’re stacking at-bats, had good energy against a really good baseball team.’’
That Rays team still has a four-game lead over the Yanks, who’ll need a four-game sweep when they meet again in September at Yankee Stadium to avoid losing the season series.
But something seemed to change in that third inning, when the Yanks finally strung together some patient, professional at-bats against a tough opponent.
Even a foul, flyout by the epically struggling Austin Wells served to move McMahon up 90 feet, allowing him to score on a Trent Grisham single, the first of five straight hits.
In a 1-for-25 slide, Wells would later hit his first home run since May 22, and the Yanks were – at long last – on their way to a breezy victory.
“The great thing about it, it was everyone,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, starting with Max Schuemann’s leadoff double in the third.
And the Yanks still tried to keep a positive tone while the ceiling was caving in.
“Let’s go double-double here,’’ McMahon told Schuemann, before his at-bat.
“Funny how it works,’’ said Schuemann, getting the start in left field, with the struggling Cody Bellinger starting at first base for the first time in 2026.
“Nice to see us…keep the foot on the gas and keep adding on runs,’’ said Schuemann, who credited “a good’’ pregame hitters meeting, where “some of the guys spoke up’’ as a spark.
Yankees' rousing pregame meeting
You must be registered for see images
Coming off a shutout loss Wednesday, and without drawing one walk in two games – both losses – the Yanks drew some inspiration from Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s words.
“Good to hear him speak and to hear what he was thinking,’’ said Schuemann, without delving into specifics. “Feel like it really brought the guys together and feel it needed to be said.’’
Late Wednesday night, a weary Boone admittedly ran out of words about the Yanks’ malaise, with 15 losses in their last 20 games, averaging 2.8 runs per.
And there's no Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton on the horizon to boost a lineup that's been in a desperate spiral.
Thursday morning at the Trop, GM Brian Cashman said Judge (rib fracture) would be re-imaged next week, hopefully providing a map for his ramp up to baseball activity. Stanton has been nursing a new calf strain since last month, and has just begun a light running program.
Still, “we’re obviously better than how we’ve been playing,’’ said Schuemann, who especially felt Chisholm (sac fly, 3rd inning) and Jose Caballero (RBI single, 3rd inning) brought something more to the table Thursday.
"We just rode with that energy the whole game.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Can this be the spark that finally lights the Yankees' lineup?
Continue reading...
