Yankees latest walk-off victory: ''If we have outs, we have a chance''
· Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK – In its flight, Jazz Chisholm’s infield pop fly moved the Yankees closer to a seventh loss in their last eight games.
But a funny thing happened as the ball descended.
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Angels’ shortstop Zach Neto and third baseman Oswald Peraza, the ex-Yankee, stared at each other, allowing an easy out to drop for a hit.
Instead of having two out and nobody on base in the ninth inning, trailing by a run, the Yankees were stunningly gifted an extra out.
“Whenever you give us a chance, it’s a dangerous thing,’’ said Jose Caballero, following his one-out, game-winning hit Wednesday night at delirious Yankee Stadium on Jackie Robinson Day around MLB.
Both Chisholm and Austin Wells (walk) were running on a double steal as Caballero lashed a Jordan Romano two-strike pitch to center.
Scoring all the way from first base, Wells slid his left foot just under catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s tag for the winning run – which had to be confirmed via replay challenge.
“I was treating it like I was safe, until I was told otherwise,’’ said Wells, aggressively green-lighted by third base coach Luis Rojas, with pinch-hitter Ahmed Rosario (to bat for Ryan McMahon) on deck.
For the second time in three nights, Romano was on the losing end of a walk-off win at the Stadium, following Monday night’s meltdown – concluding with Caballero scoring on a wild pitch.
And suddenly, the Yanks are in position to win a four-game series Thursday afternoon, behind lefty ace Max Fried.
Luis Gil's urgency for results
Wednesday night’s jaw-dropping, ninth-inning Angels’ misplay wiped out an otherwise stellar defensive game by the visitors.
And it helped absolve more Yankees offensive sins, including with runners in scoring position, and a three-run lead handed back by starter Luis Gil.
In five innings, Gil gave up three homers – including a two-run shot by Mike Trout, his fourth of this series.
All three homers were hit off fastballs, while Gil (2 walks, 5 Ks) showed a better feel for his slider and changeup in his second start of the year.
“I thought he threw way better than the line says,’’ said his catcher, Wells, after an 83-pitch effort, exiting with the Angels ahead 4-3.
Through an interpreter, Gil said an improved slider was “one of the things I wanted to work on’’ after lasting just four innings and yielding three runs in his 2026 debut start, last Friday at Tampa Bay.
But there might soon be real urgency to Gil’s starts.
On Friday, Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole – rehabbing from Tommy John surgery – is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with a start at Class AA Somerset.
On Saturday, lefty Carlos Rodon (rehab from left elbow surgery) is due to throw a live batting practice session at Somerset.
Both pitchers could be in the rotation by the end of May, and Gil is currently on the shakiest ground among Yankees starters.
Yankees' lineup hits and misses
Aaron Judge’s first-inning, solo shot – off Angels righty Jack Kochanowicz, who pitched into the seventh inning - was the fourth homer in his last four games.
With a righty going and Ben Rice, finally, back in the lineup, Boone elevated Rice to the No. 2 spot and dropped Judge to No. 3, hoping to “shake things up’’ after Tuesday’s dull showing.
But after Cody Bellinger’s third inning double, the Yanks’ Nos. 1 through 6 hitters were a combined 0-for-13 until Chisholm was gifted with that ninth-inning single.
And the Stadium’s ire was once again directed at .119-hitting third baseman Ryan McMahon, who struck out in the seventh with the tying run at second base.
Despite having three lefties in his ‘pen, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki allowed Kochanowicz to face McMahon, and then inserted lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz.
In the ninth, Boone was set to pinch-hit Ahmed Rosario for McMahon, presumably against the righty Romano.
McMahon went 0-for-3 Wednesday with a deep fly out and was robbed of a single, but Rosario’s playing time could increase with each lost at-bat by McMahon.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees latest walk-off victory: ''If we have outs, we have a chance''