Yankees Stage Historic Comeback, Defeat Mariners in 10th Inning Thriller
A stunning, late-game rally propelled the New York Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium, marking a comeback of historic proportions. The Yankees, held hitless through eight innings, battled back to secure their third “Gold Victory” of the season and a fourth consecutive win.
A Game of Inches and Unlikely Victories
The dramatic conclusion unfolded in the 10th inning, with Anthony Volpe executing a daring slide into home plate, narrowly beating the throw from Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh. The play, set up by a sacrifice fly from Aaron Judge, sealed the improbable win. “I knew who was in third, so my only thought when arriving at home was to lift the ball and let [Volpe] take care of the rest,” a senior player stated. “What a great slip! There is no one else who wanted in a situation like Volpe.”
The victory was punctuated by a brief review confirming the call on the field, followed by the familiar strains of Frank Sinatra echoing through the stadium. Players initially paused their celebration pending the review’s outcome.
From Domination to Desperation: A Historic Turnaround
The Yankees’ comeback was particularly remarkable given their offensive struggles earlier in the game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, New York became only the second team in the modern era (since 1961) to win a game after being held without a hit and trailing by at least five runs through the seventh inning. The feat evoked memories of a similar contest in 1977 between the Montreal Expos and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Early in the game, the Mariners appeared firmly in control, thanks to a dominant performance from pitcher Bryan Woo. A team representative acknowledged, “I felt we were dominated” by Woo, a sentiment echoed by many observing the game’s initial stages.
Sparking the Rally: Chisholm’s Hit and Stanton’s Power
The turning point came in the eighth inning with a single by Jazz Chisholm Jr., breaking up Woo’s no-hit bid. “The boys were having good shifts all night; hitting the direct ball to the defenders, simply failing for little,” one player noted. “Woo is one of the best pitchers in the game for a reason… He has given us problems for many years, so we are happy to steal that victory.”
A sacrifice fly by Austin Wells brought Chisholm home, and a subsequent home run by Giancarlo Stanton – despite a historically low success rate in similar situations – tied the game. Stanton connected with a 97.6 mph pitch, sending it 415 feet into the right field bullpen. “No advantage is safe,” Stanton recalled. “I had to make sure to be ready, and it happens quickly. Never underestimate this alignment.”
Exploiting a Tell and Securing the Win
Facing a two-run deficit in the 10th, the Yankees capitalized on a subtle cue from Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz. Opposing runners noticed Muñoz’s tell before delivering his slider, allowing them to anticipate the pitch. With the bases loaded, Wells delivered a game-winning line drive to right field.
“It only shows the versatility we have,” Wells said. “We have shown that we can paste early in the games, and that we can also overcome late. It is a total team effort to be in that situation at the end. The pitchers keeping the game closed and we without surrendering in the shifts. It was really great.”
Manager Aaron Boone added, “I had the best view of the stadium. I saw that the shot went to home, and I thought, ‘Oh, no!’ But I saw his hand there.” The improbable comeback underscored the Yankees’ resilience and ability to battle until the very end.
