George Lombard Jr. delivered the New York Yankees’ first grand slam of the season on Wednesday night, powering a 6-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
The Yankees, who had hit 194 home runs before Wednesday without a bases-loaded blast, achieved the milestone in the 145th game of their season. Lombard Jr.’s third career home run gave the Yankees a 5-0 lead in the third inning.
This marks a significant moment for the Yankees as they aim to secure a playoff spot. The team now stands four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the division race with 17 games remaining and holds a four-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the top American League wild card position.
Aaron Judge, playing in his second game back from an injury that kept him out for three months, contributed a single that initiated the rally leading to Lombard Jr.’s grand slam. Judge played eight innings in right field, with a pinch runner entering in the bottom of the eighth as the team carefully manages his workload.
The Yankees’ offense also saw solo home runs from Luis García Jr. and Cody Bellinger. García’s blast in the second inning put the Yankees ahead 1-0, and Bellinger’s later in the game ensured David Bednar did not have to pitch the ninth inning.
On the pitching front, Will Warren delivered a strong performance, allowing just one run over six innings while striking out eight batters. This outing followed his scoreless relief appearance against the Padres five days prior, signaling a potential role in the postseason. Warren’s velocity showed an uptick for the third consecutive start.
The Rockies managed to score their lone run on a solo home run by Connor Norby in the fifth inning. However, Warren managed to escape a jam in the fifth with a double play.
Lombard Jr.'s grand slam also placed him in the Yankees' record books as the second-youngest player to hit a grand slam for the team, at 21 years and 99 days old. Only Mickey Mantle, who achieved the feat twice as a 20-year-old in 1952, was younger.
The Yankees organization has been active despite recent injury news, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. is set to miss time with a right thumb sprain. The team's overall home run total ranks fourth in the majors this season, even with the extended absence of Judge.