Yankees’ Marcus Stroman throws live BP at Dodger Stadium
Yankees’ Marcus Stroman throws live BP at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2025
NEW YORK – In a Yankees’ three-run second inning Thursday afternoon, a few things occurred that hadn’t happened in a while.
Anthony Volpe led off with just his second walk since June 3.Trent Grisham’s two-out, two-run shot was his first home run since May 30.Paul Goldschmidt connected next, giving the Yanks back-to-back homers for the first time since June 3.And it was the Yankees’ first multi-run inning since scoring twice in Saturday’s seventh at Boston.
That damage against Angels lefty Tyler Anderson was a relative offensive bonanza for a Yankee team that entered Thursday on six-game losing streak, with seven total runs scored in their last seven games.
By adding two runs following a 35-minute rain delay in the eighth, the Yankees moved toward a 7-3 victory – their first win in a week, due largely to an ice-cold batting order.
That included Yankees captain Aaron Judge, 2-for-28 until leading off the eighth with a sharp double to the deepest part of Yankee Stadium, left-center field.
As a lineup lately, “I know the results weren’t the best,” said Goldschmidt, but he didn’t see anything to suggest the Yanks had lost their way regarding approach or preparation.
Thursday’s results were “good,” said Goldschmidt, but “we’ve got to keep going.”
Yankees’ Cody Bellinger: Good hearing the music again
Grisham’s 14th homer of the year erased a 2-1 Yankee deficit, and that three-run inning “gave me a cushion to go to work and get some outs,” said Yanks starter Carlos Rodon, who yielded three solo homers in six innings.
On a day when Rodon’s stuff was “not overwhelming,” manager Aaron Boone felt the veteran lefty “managed the game well.”
Rodon handed the bullpen a lead and watched Mark Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loaisiga and Devin Williams finish the Yanks’ first win since June 12 at Kansas City, a 1-0 finish.
“Definitely feels good hearing the music again,” said Cody Bellinger, who had three of the Yanks’ 12 hits and walked into a celebratory postgame clubhouse with a victory soundtrack pulsing from speakers.
“Keep on trusting each other” was the lineup’s theme, said Bellinger, and Boone saw “a little more patience” against Anderson, and “more guys” throughout the order “being in on the act.”
Out of the No. 9 spot, Grisham – batting .170 over his previous 47 at-bats – also doubled and scored on a Bellinger single in the seventh and played his superb brand of center field defense in a personal low-key style.
Watching his lineup generally press earlier this week, Boone admiringly suggested that Grisham might be uniquely incapable of pressing.
“This game over 180 days will beat you up,” said Grisham, having learned to manage that daily stress – with the help of the team’s “good veteran leadership.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s new screen saver
The Yanks scored one run in the first, but a chance at a bigger inning was derailed when a replay challenge upheld the out call on Bellinger, forced out at second base.
“I thought I was safe (initially),” Bellinger said of a play that resulted in an RBI fielder’s choice for Giancarlo Stanton.
“Incredibly surprised” was Boone’s reaction to the call not being overturned. The photo of Bellinger’s foot on the bag is “my screensaver now.”
In the Yankee sixth, a first-and-second, two out scoring chance was scuttled when Austin Wells strayed too far off first base on a 3-2 count with DJ LeMahieu batting.
Wells’ actions got Anthony Volpe trapped off second base, where he was caught in a rundown to end the inning.
The runners were going on the pitch, but “you can’t get picked off there,” said Boone, whose club had some head-scratching baserunning moments last weekend in Boston, during the Red Sox’s three-game sweep.
Who’s the Yankees’ closer? Luke Weaver due to return
Luke Weaver could be activated for Friday’s series opener against the last-place Baltimore Orioles at the Stadium.
Sidelined since June 1 due to a strained left hamstring, Weaver’s fast recovery will enable him to return to a prominent late-inning bullpen role.
Whether he’s the first choice to close games, or Devin Williams, remains to be seen. “When he’s ready to come back, we’ll have that conversation,’’ Boone said of Weaver.
Williams’ struggles during the season’s opening month forced a change, with Weaver restored as closer (his late 2024 role) and Williams used as a primary setup reliever.
In Weaver’s absence, Williams has converted all four save opportunities in five appearances, showing far better command of his fastball and signature “airbender’’ changeup.
In a non-save situation Thursday afternoon, Williams closed out the victory by facing four batters in the ninth and striking out the side.
Weaver has posted a 1.05 ERA in 24 appearances this year, with eight saves in nine attempts. Both Weaver and Williams are in their free agent walk years.
Yankees’ Yerry de los Santos sent for tests
Before Thursday’s game, the Yankees placed right-handed reliever Yerry de los Santos on the 15-day IL due to right elbow discomfort.
Results of tests taken Thursday had yet to be revealed by the Yanks, who called up lefty Jayvien Sandridge and added him to the roster.
De los Santos threw 14 pitches in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Angels. Sandridge was immediately optioned after Thursday’s game, likely to accommodate Weaver’s activation.
Meanwhile, Marcus Stroman (left knee inflammation) came out of his 55-pitch, 3.1-inning minor league rehab start Wednesday for Class AA Somerset in good shape as he works back toward activation in a yet-to-be defined role.