After a tough series-opening loss, and a stretch of five losses in their previous seven games, the Yankees rebounded in dramatic fashion to take two of three from the star-studded San Diego Padres in the Bronx. The series win came at a pivotal moment for New York, snapping a mini slide and proving that they can go toe-to-toe with one of the most loaded lineups in baseball. Behind dominant pitching, explosive offense, and one of the most feel-good walk-off moments of the season, the Yankees delivered a statement.
Game 2
Schmidt Shines in Game 2
Clarke Schmidt made his third start of the season in Game 2, delivering his best start yet when the team needed it most. The right-hander gave the Yankees six solid innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out four against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. It was a gritty, confidence-building outing that helped stabilize the game and kept the Yankees within striking distance before their offense erupted for a 10-run seventh inning.
Wells Sparks and Caps Off Historic 10-Run Seventh
The Yankees’ unforgettable 10-run seventh inning in Game 2 was bookended by the bat of Austin Wells. Wells started the rally by ripping an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. With the bases loaded, Trent Grisham showed patience and drew a walk to bring in the go-ahead run. Ben Rice followed with a ground-ball double down the right field line, plating two more. Cody Bellinger kept the line moving with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 7-3, before Anthony Volpe added yet another run with an RBI of his own to make it 8-3. Then, in the defining moment of the inning, Wells stepped up once more — this time launching his first career grand slam, a no-doubter that sent Yankee Stadium into chaos and capped off the most explosive inning the franchise has had since 2015.
All is well that ends Wells 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OwkLS0MEVk
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 7, 2025
Game 3
Fried’s Flame Continues to Burn in Game 3
Max Fried turned in yet another gem in the rubber match, going 7.0 innings while allowing just one earned run, striking out eight without issuing a walk. He now sports a pristine 6-0 record and a 1.05 ERA, the third-lowest by a Yankee through his first eight starts of a season since 1913. Fried’s performance was calm, clinical, and vintage, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters he faced.
Bellinger Breaks Through, Sparks the Rally
With the Yankees’ offense hitless and flat through six innings in Game 3, Cody Bellinger stepped up and delivered one of his biggest moments of the season. Leading off the bottom of the seventh, Bellinger crushed a game-tying solo homer over the short porch in right — the Yankees’ first hit of the night — and instantly ignited the dugout and crowd. It was Bellinger’s fifth home run of the year, and part of a hot streak that’s seen him go 6-for-19 (.316) with 2 HR, 4 RBI, and a .632 slugging percentage over his last five games. The veteran center fielder finished the night 2-for-4 and continues to show signs of finding his rhythm at the plate — just in time to help carry a team in need of timely hitting.
Grisham’s Clutch Stick Stays Red-Hot
Yankees fans have seen flashes of power from Trent Grisham all season, and Game 3 might have been his biggest moment yet. Pinch-hitting in the eighth with the Yankees trailing, Grisham delivered a massive game-tying two-run homer, his first career pinch-hit home run and 10th of the season. Seven of those 10 bombs have either tied the game or given the Yankees the lead — an incredible stat that speaks to his knack for the big moment.
Emotional Williams Redeems, Dominates in 10th
After early-season struggles, Devin Williams came through in the tensest of moments. Tasked with a bases-loaded, extra-inning jam, Williams responded with three consecutive strikeouts, including a huge punchout of Xander Bogaerts. It was his first win as a Yankee, and a resounding one at that — the high-leverage performance fans had been hoping for.
Jam: escaped.
Devin Williams: fired up.
Yankee Stadium: LOUD.(MLB x @CoronaUSA) pic.twitter.com/uLSwPeCG3V
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2025
From Uber to Hero: Escarra’s Walk-Off Moment
The night — and series — ended with a poetic twist. J.C. Escarra, once an Uber driver just trying to stay afloat financially, delivered a pinch-hit walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to seal the Yankees’ 4-3 win. It was Escarra’s first walk-off RBI in the majors. His journey from hardship to heroics was a perfect symbol of this gritty Yankees squad.
Walk it off, J.C. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qbc0mx19kd
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 8, 2025
West Coast Swing Looms as Bronx Awaits Soto’s Return
With the win, the Yankees notched their second straight comeback victory and ninth of the season, once again proving their toughness against one of baseball’s most feared lineups. This series wasn’t just a much-needed win — it was a statement that the Yankees can hang with, and beat, the league’s top-tier teams.
Now, the club heads west for its first West Coast trip of the season, beginning with a three-game set in Sacramento against the Athletics. That’s followed by another three in Seattle, where the Yankees will face a surging Mariners team in a tough road environment. After the six-game swing, the Yankees return home — but the Bronx may not be so welcoming when Juan Soto returns for the first time since departing for the crosstown Mets in the offseason. It promises to be an emotional and potentially tense homecoming for Soto, and a high-stakes series that will carry more than its fair share of drama.
