On Aug. 9, 2025, the Yankees beat the Astros 5-4 as Trent Grisham crushed a go-ahead 408-ft HR and David Bednar fired 98.5 mph to seal it. Relive the drama.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Sometimes a season needs one clean swing to change the temperature. On Saturday in the Bronx, Trent Grisham supplied it—launching a 408-foot go-ahead homer to right-center in the eighth just minutes after the Yankees watched a two-run lead evaporate. David Bednar then slammed the door with a 98.5 mph fastball to finish a 5-4 win over the Astros, a much-needed jolt that nudged New York to 62-55 and snapped their losing streak.
“Big win for the squad—let’s keep it rolling!” — Trent Grisham
You could feel the collective exhale. The Yankees had done the hard work, built a cushion, and then watched the Astros claw even in the top of the eighth. Enter Grisham, who turned on a pitch and sent it screaming into the night for his first homer since July. Beyond the obvious scoreboard impact, the blast felt like a reset—proof that this lineup still has the timely swing when the game asks the most of it.
High-leverage is why the Yankees traded for David Bednar, and this is exactly the vision. With the tying run looming, Bednar challenged Jeremy Peña with pure velocity and won—inducing the final flyout to lock down his 23rd save. The bullpen had bent earlier, but the closer’s conviction was the last word. Nights like this recalibrate trust in the back end.
The offense did its part throughout. Aaron Judge scored twice and remains the engine of everything. Paul Goldschmidt scored twice as well, continuing to lengthen the middle of the order and force pitchers into the zone. Giancarlo Stanton drove in two—an encouraging sign given the ongoing conversations about his usage—and rookie Ben Rice chipped in a sacrifice fly. The mix wasn’t flashy, but it was layered: traffic, pressure, and the one big blow when it counted.
Luis Gil took the ball and gave the Yankees a competitive start, handing the game to a bullpen that’s had its share of white-knuckle frames of late. While the eighth inning wobble will draw some groans, the staff’s ability to reset and finish is the lasting takeaway—especially with Bednar locking in at the end. That’s a template they’ll need as the schedule tightens.
No new injuries, no new moves—but plenty of attention. Stanton’s two RBIs are the ideal outcome for a measured workload: maximize damage, minimize risk. The Yankees appear committed to a careful balance of DH days and strategic rest, especially around travel and quick turnarounds. The goal is simple: keep the thump in September by being smart in August.
A quiet but important subplot: MLB.com’s latest update nudged several Yankees minor leaguers into the Nos. 21–25 range. Right-hander Cam Schlittler and outfielder Spencer Jones are among the names drawing buzz, a sign the organization’s development pipeline continues to hum. Depth matters in August, but it can define October—and beyond—when it produces role players and late-season reinforcements.
No trades. No designations. No coaching shakeups. For one day, stability was the story, and the Yankees leaned into it—trusting the roster as built while they host a heavyweight opponent. Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman remain at the controls, and the group on the field delivered the kind of win that buys time and belief.
The team’s feeds leaned into the exact moments you’d expect: Grisham’s no-doubt swing and Bednar’s final heater. Players and fans echoed the relief and urgency—because both can be true in August—highlighted by Grisham’s own message after the game.
One win doesn’t fix a skid; stacking them does. The Astros series resumes Sunday in the Bronx, and the immediate ask is familiar: keep traffic ahead of Judge, get Stanton good swings, and bridge cleanly to Bednar. If the Yankees repeat Saturday’s recipe—pressure early, power late, conviction in the ninth—they’ll like where they stand when the week turns.
The Yankees didn’t just avoid another tough loss; they authored a hinge-point win—punctuated by Grisham’s bat and Bednar’s fastball. With the record at 62-55 and the Astros still in town, Sunday is about momentum. Keep the stars scoring, keep Stanton swinging, keep the ninth inning Bednar’s domain. That’s the path forward.
