The New York Yankees needed a big swing in the top of the 10th inning in the worst way.
After leading 3-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning on Wednesday, the Yankees’ embattled bullpen blew another save opportunity, allowing the Tampa Bay Rays to tie the game and send it to extra innings. There, Giancarlo Stanton was waiting to face Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks.
Stanton, who was on pinch-hit duty after a scheduled night off, worked the count full. Then, he turned around a 96-mph fastball and sent it sailing over the left field wall at a 108 mph exit velocity. New York tacked on an insurance run, securing a 6-4 win.
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It was not only the Yankees’ first road win in extra innings all season (they were 0-6 previously), but it secured a 5-0 road trip heading into a crucial homestand where New York will square off with the arch-rival Boston Red Sox Thursday through Sunday.
“Great road trip,” said Stanton, per Greg Joyce of the New York Post. “Hitting the ball hard, hitting the ball in the air, getting a lot of homers, timely hitting. Clicking on a lot of cylinders, so it’s good to take this into the weekend.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone summed up his feelings on Stanton quite succinctly after the monster blast.
“He’s an animal,” the skipper told Joyce.
Stanton, 35, has been absolutely sensational in his 46 games this year after recovering from double tennis elbow. He’s now slashing .311/.389/.642, with his three home runs in the last two games putting him at 15 on the season.
This is the best version of Stanton, and with the entire Yankees lineup finding success in the Rays series, it appears the Bronx Bombers are more than ready for their showdown with the Red Sox.
Entering play on Thursday, New York leads Boston by 1 1/2 games for the top American League wild card spot, and trails the Toronto Blue Jays by only four games for the East division lead.
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