New York Yankees 4-3 after a dramatic late-game surge.">
Padres Rally Late to Defeat Yankees in Series Opener
NEW YORK — August 29, 2024 — The San Diego Padres secured a thrilling victory over the New York Yankees with a late-inning rally, winning the series opener 4-3. The game at Yankee Stadium saw a seesaw battle, featuring stellar defensive plays, a weather delay, and key pitching performances. The Padres’ comeback was fueled by clutch hits and determination, ultimately leading to their triumph. For an in-depth analysis and expert commentary on the Padres’ performance, read on.
Padres Rally Late to defeat Yankees in Series Opener
The San Diego Padres overcame an early deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 4-3 on monday at Yankee Stadium, marking the first meeting between these two storied franchises in the 2025 season. After a weekend of losses at home against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees sought to rebound, but the Padres ultimately prevailed in a tightly contested match.
Early Defensive Highlights
The game started with a series of remarkable defensive plays in the first inning:
- Cody Bellinger made a spectacular catch in left field, robbing Luis Arráez of a potential hit.
- Brandon Lockridge responded with a fine grab of a Trent Grisham fly ball in center field.
- Xander Bogaerts then showcased his arm, firing a throw from second base to home to retire Aaron Judge.
Grisham’s Power Display
In the third inning,Trent Grisham put the Yankees ahead with a two-run home run. The ball landed on the second level of the Yankee Stadium stands,also scoring Jorbit Vivas. This was Grisham’s ninth home run of the season, highlighting his power at the plate.
Weather delay and Pitching Performance
The game was temporarily halted due to a severe thunderstorm that swept through New York City, but resumed after a short delay. Yankees starter Carlos Rodón delivered a strong performance, pitching 6.2 innings with five strikeouts, allowing three hits and one walk.
Before exiting, Antony Volpe hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the sixth inning, allowing Paul Goldschmidt to score and extend the yankees’ lead to 3-0.
Williams Falters, Weaver Suffers
The tide turned when Carlos Rodón exited the game. Devin Williams entered in relief but struggled, despite recording two outs. Williams hit Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jason Heyward, and also walked two batters, loading the bases.
With the game on the line, manager Aaron Boone called upon Luke Weaver in the eighth inning. Weaver, however, could not contain Manny Machado, who delivered a two-run double to left field, scoring Tyler Wade and Brandon Lockridge, making the score 3-2.
Xander Bogaerts then followed with a single to left field, driving in arráez and Machado, giving the Padres a 4-3 lead.
It was a tough loss. We had the lead, but couldn’t hold on. We need to execute better in those late-game situations.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone, Post-Game Press Conference
