Giancarlo Stanton saved the Yankees with his two-run blast in the 10th inning after David Bednar's blown save as the Yankees defeated the Rays, 6-4, on Wednesday night in Tampa.
Bednar had been great for the Yankees since his meltdown in Miami, but he struggled a bit in the ninth inning on Wednesday, allowing a one-hit walk and then a single to Junior Caminero. After a strikeout, Hunter Feduccia hit a high fastball that hit the top of the centerfield wall, driving in two and tying the game at 3-3.
In the 10th, Stanton came off the bench and hit a leadoff two-run shot. Austin Wells then followed with a solo shot to give the Yankees a 6-3 lead.
Devin Williams was tasked with the 10th inning, and after a leadoff single drove in a run, Williams would strike out three of the next four batters to earn the save.
The Yankees' winning streak is now at five games, and with the Mariners' loss earlier in the day and the Red Sox idle, New York is now 1.5 games ahead of Boston.
Here are the takeaways…
-After hitting nine homers on Tuesday, the Yankees picked up where they left off when Trent Grisham hit a leadoff shot off of Drew Rasmussen.
Rasmussen would settle down after throwing 20 pitches in the first inning but Wells, making the start behind the plate, launched a hanging 81 mph curveball down in the zone to deep right field. Wells' 409-foot blast was the catcher's first home run since July 25.
Grisham would add another homer to the counter in the eighth inning, putting the Yankees up 3-0. It's his third multi-homer game this season.
-Schlittler was on his A-game to start, getting the Rays in order across the first six innings, striking out six while tossing 66 pitches. However, Chandler Simpson singled up the middle to lead off the seventh to break up the perfect game. The young right-hander struck out Yandy Diaz to bounce back, but after a walk, Schlittler found himself in his first jam.
The 24-year-old struck out Caminero but walked Josh Lowe on six pitches to load the bases. Schlittler was pulled for Luke Weaver, who struck out Feduccia to end the inning and put a bow on Schlittler's masterful game.
Schlittler had his best start as a major leaguer, tossing 95 pitches (67 strikes) across 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and walking two, while striking out a career high eight batters.
-Weaver started the eighth and allowed a one-out solo shot to Bob Seymour on a high fastball that the young left-hander caught up to. The blast cut the Yankees' lead to 3-1. It's Seymour's first career homer, and the first blast Weaver has allowed since July 25.
Weaver bounced back to get the final two outs of the eighth with no issue, giving way to Bednar for the ninth.
–Jose Caballero was ejected after arguing with the umpires after he was caught stealing in the 10th inning. This forced Stanton to play the outfield.
Game MVP: Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton completely shifted the momentum of this game with his pinch-hit homer.
Highlights
Leadoff homer for Trent Grisham! pic.twitter.com/wEJROU0x8v
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 20, 2025
Standing ovation for Cam Schlittler 👏 pic.twitter.com/2KJIBhkOu7
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 21, 2025
Trent does it again! 🚀
Second home run of the night for Trent Grisham! pic.twitter.com/vNlzdh7oww— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 21, 2025
Giancarlo Stanton two-run homer in extra innings!!! 💣
Yankees back on top in the 10th! pic.twitter.com/CywduUhFDA— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 21, 2025
BACK-TO-BACK IN THE TENTH!
Austin Wells adds to the lead with a solo shot 🔥 pic.twitter.com/a6Kp6Azi3P— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 21, 2025
What's next
The Yankees travel back home to host the Boston Red Sox for a crucial four-game series in the Bronx.
Luis Gil (1-1, 5.14 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees while Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.63 ERA) is on the bump for Boston.