Trent Grisham's 9th-inning grand slam off Raisel Iglesias gave the Yankees a 12-9 win over the Braves on July 20, 2025. Recap the stunning series finale.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was all there for the taking. A Sunday showdown against the Yankees, a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, and the team's lights-out closer on the mound. But in a brutal twist of fate, one swing of the bat turned a tense duel into a devastating loss, as Trent Grisham's grand slam off Raisel Iglesias propelled New York to a 12-9 victory and a series win.
A 9-9 tie game in the ninth turned into a 12-9 loss on one swing: Trent Grisham's tiebreaking grand slam.
The ninth inning started with a sense of dread that quickly became reality. Paul Goldschmidt led off with a double against Raisel Iglesias, instantly putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. It was the first run the Braves' closer had allowed in over a month. After an intentional walk and another single loaded the bases, Trent Grisham stepped to the plate and delivered the knockout blow—a towering grand slam that silenced the home crowd and capped a four-run inning for the Yankees.
For 15 straight appearances, Raisel Iglesias had been automatic. But baseball has a way of humbling even the best. The leadoff double not only set the stage for the loss but also snapped one of the most reliable streaks the Braves had going. While the loss stings, it's a harsh reminder of the razor-thin margin for error in high-leverage situations. Iglesias has been a rock for this bullpen, and the team will need him to shake this one off quickly.
This tough loss doesn't happen in a vacuum. The Braves continue to fight with a depleted roster. The bullpen is already missing key setup man Joe Jiménez, who is recovering from knee surgery. The infield depth is tested with Nacho Alvarez Jr. sidelined by a strained oblique. And the long-term pitching outlook took a massive hit with the news that top prospect AJ Smith-Shawver will miss the rest of this season and potentially part of 2027 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. These injuries put immense pressure on the active players to perform perfectly every night.
Losing a hard-fought series to a rival like the Yankees is a bitter pill to swallow, especially in this fashion. The focus now shifts to recovery and resilience. The Braves must wash away the memory of this ninth inning, get healthy, and find a way to support a bullpen that is being stretched to its limits. The season is long, but this weekend served as a painful reminder that every game, and every pitch, counts.
