NEW YORK — As the Yankees near their campaign quarters, Aaron Boone judges their performance as “incomplete” and notes there is still work to be done. Still, they have displayed one encouraging trait: a firm determination to bounce back and bounce back from early deficits.
Aaron Judge hit two homers and drove four runs as the Yankees came back from a six-run deficit on Saturday afternoon and recorded their ninth comeback win of the season by beating the Rays 9-8 at Yankee Stadium. Of the Bombers’ last eight wins, six have been unbeaten.
Nestor Cortes gave up six runs over 4 1/3 innings, including a grand slam from Yandy Díaz in the fifth inning. Then the Yanks’ slugger got to work, scoring a four-run frame on Rays ace Shane McClanahan. Kyle Higashioka hit a two-run home run and Judge hit the right field spots with his seventh blast of the year, both against McClanahan, who didn’t record an out in the fifth.
Anthony Volpe’s elite wheels sparked a five-run inning in the sixth. The rookie hit a bunt single, stole second and third bases, and then ran home on a wild pitch. Volpe is the first Yankee ever to steal his first 13 career bases without getting caught. Judge’s second home run of the day hit Ryan Thompson, and Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run single against Javy Guerra.
Tampa Bay held the game close when Randy Arozarena defeated Clay Holmes for a two-run single in the seventh game.