When outfielder Trent Grisham stepped up to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning of Sunday’s series finale in the Bronx against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees fans were not pleased.
After all, Grisham had a season batting average of.083. He also walked in his first plate appearance of the game in the second inning before striking out swinging in his second plate appearance in the fourth. Manager Aaron Boone simply placed Grisham into the lineup to fill the vacuum created by injured superstar Juan Soto.
When Grisham came to bat for the third time in the game, Yankees supporters screamed “We want Soto!” It didn’t take long for Grisham to turn the tune into a scream of shouts, hitting a three-run home run off Dodgers ace Tyler Glasnow to put the Yankees ahead by two runs, 5-3.
After the game, Yankees superstar Aaron Judge stated that he was not pleased with way New York fans treated Grisham before to that 394-foot homer.
“I wasn’t too happy with it,” Judge said after the Yankees’ 6-4 triumph (via Jorge Castillo of ESPN). “But I think he made a good point, got his point across there with that homer.”
Grisham was also questioned after the game if he heard the chanting, and he responded yes, but added that the home run he hit was not intended to silence the haters.
Overall, Grisham finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two walks, bringing his season totals to.100/.258/.280. Those aren’t great numbers, but his performance against the Dodgers could be the beginning of something good for Grisham, who was one of the players sent to the Yankees with Soto in a blockbuster trade last December that cost New York Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka.
Judge finished his individual effort in the Dodgers series strong, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Through three games versus the Dodgers, the former American League Most Valuable Player hit.636/.714/1.636 with three home runs, five runs driven, and three walks. So far in the 2024 MLB regular season, Judge is hitting.305/.436/.703 with 24 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Yankees avoid sweep in home series vs Dodgers.
The Yankees avoided an embarrassing sweep at home against the Dodgers, thanks in large part to Grisham’s unexpected heroics. The Yankees lost the series opener 2-1 and the second leg 11-3. Luis Gil may also thank Grisham for saving his record from dropping to a second loss this season. Gil pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and striking out five. He received no decision. Caleb Ferguson earned the Yankees’ pitching win, Luke Weaver had his eighth save of the season, and Clay Holmes recorded his 19th.
With the win, New York got back on track and increased their record to 46-21, 2.5 games ahead of their American League East rivals.
The Yankees will play a four-game road series against the Kansas City Royals beginning coming Monday, followed by a three-game set at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox to finish the week.
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