Jazz Chisholm Jr. delivered a dramatic two-run home run in the ninth inning Friday night, lifting the New York Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The win marked the Yankees' first back-to-back victories in over two weeks.
Trailing by a run with one out in the ninth, Chisholm connected with a pitch from left-hander Matt Krook, sending the ball into the second deck to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead. Following Chisholm's blast, Austin Wells added a solo home run, extending the Yankees' advantage to 5-3. David Bednar then pitched the second inning to close out the game.
The Yankees' victory followed a 12-run, 14-hit performance the previous night against the Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to Friday's win, the team had gone 2-11, struggling to build momentum.
Earlier in Friday's game, the Yankees took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning on solo home runs from Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez. However, Tim Hill surrendered back-to-back home runs to Keibert Ruiz and James Wood, giving the Nationals a 3-2 lead.
Ryan Weathers started for the Yankees, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings. He altered his pitch mix, relying on his sweeper, slider, and changeup, and scattered six hits while striking out six without issuing a walk. Despite some defensive miscues behind him, including misplayed balls by shortstop José Caballero and third baseman Amed Rosario, Weathers limited the Nationals' scoring opportunities.
The Nationals tied the game in the third inning when Dylan Crews grounded into a double play, allowing James Wood to score from second base after an initial double. In the fourth, a fielding error by Rosario allowed a runner to reach third, but the Yankees defense ultimately prevented a run.
Before the late-game heroics, Ben Rice opened the scoring for the Yankees with a solo home run in the first inning, his 29th of the season and seventh in his last 10 games. Paul Goldschmidt ended an 0-for-34 hitless streak with a single in the first inning, and Cody Bellinger followed with a single, but the rally stalled.
The Yankees (52-42) and Nationals (48-47) game was delayed by two hours due to storms. The Yankees aim to build on this recent string of success to pull out of their slump.