Yankees Snap Nationals Back, Grisham Hits Two‑Run Homer

Game Recap

Trent Grisham’s two‑run blast in the eighth inning sparked a 4‑2 comeback win for New York over Washington. The victory gave Aaron Boone his 750th win as the Yankees’ manager. Curtis Mead and James Wood earlier put the Nationals ahead 2‑0 with home runs, but Orlando Ribalta’s poor inning gave up a solo shot to Ryan McMahon and walked Ben Rice before Grisham responded.

Clayton Beeter (3‑2) took the mound in relief and was promptly victimized by Grisham’s drive to the second deck in right field. Paul Goldschmidt capped the rally with a solo homer, his first long ball since June 24. The Yankees held on, and David Bednar closed out the win with his 18th save of the season.

Key Performances

James Wood launched his 27th home run on Cam Schlittler’s first pitch of the game, becoming the Nationals’ leadoff‑HR leader with nine this season—tying Alfonso Soriano’s 2006 record. Mead added a one‑out drive that gave Washington an early 2‑0 cushion. Schlittler, who had gone eight straight road starts without allowing more than one earned run, saw his AL‑leading ERA climb from 2.01 to 2.05 after those early runs.

Grisham’s two‑run shot was the difference, while Goldschmidt’s solo swing marked a turning point in the inning. Bednar earned the save after a spotless ninth, extending his streak to 16 consecutive scoreless outings. Washington’s relief corps struggled, blowing its 27th save of the season—most in the majors.

Pitching Battle

On the mound, Brent Headrick (5‑1) earned the win for the Nationals, while Miles Mikolas tossed four innings and gave up four hits. PJ Poulin opened the game and recorded the first five outs. The Yankees’ bullpen, led by Beeter and Bednar, kept the game close until the eighth, when Grisham’s clutch homer sealed the outcome.

Schlittler’s early exit after the first three batters in the eighth was the final blow to his nine‑game road streak. The Yankees’ starters kept Washington’s offense at bay, limiting them to just 6 hits and 2 runs through seven innings.

Series Snapshot

• Yankees have won three straight for the first time since a four‑game run from June 13‑17.
• New York had dropped 11 of its previous 13 games before this winning streak.
• The Yankees and Nationals are 1‑2 in home‑run hitting across the league.
• Thirteen of the 14 runs scored so far in this series have come via the long ball.
• Washington leads MLB with 27 blown saves this season.

Looking Ahead

New York will aim for a three‑game sweep on Sunday with right‑hander Will Warren (7‑4) taking the mound. The Nationals have yet to announce their starter for that matchup. With both clubs boasting high‑powered offenses, expect another pitch‑filled showdown in the series.

The outcome could significantly impact each team’s playoff positioning, especially given the Nationals’ struggles in close games and the Yankees’ momentum heading into the stretch run.

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