Daily Report – 9/5/25
Yankees
Brian Walsh didn’t want it to happen, but the Yankees found a way to take two of three games from the Houston Astros last night with an 8-4 win.
This time, it wasn’t Walsh’s poor assessment of the strike zone that ailed the Yankees. He was stationed at third base in last night’s game, and in the sixth inning, when Jose Altuve clearly lined a ball into Ryan McMahon’s glove at third base, Walsh ruled that McMahon had committed an error by dropping the ball on the play. McMahon fumbled the ball on the transfer, but YES Network cameras clearly showed he caught the ball on the fly first. Yet, Walsh didn’t see that, and unfortunately for the Yankees, the play was not reviewable.
“More just [ticked] off at myself for not making sure to keep holding onto [the ball],” said McMahon, who, in his last 10 games, holds a .323 batting average with two home runs and a 1.002 OPS. “I got cute, I wanted to look at second [base] and see if we could double [Alvarez] off. But right there, just got to make sure I squeeze it and hold on tight. I do think I caught it, though.”
Meanwhile, Carlos Rodón was on the mound trying to top his night off with a clean sixth inning. On the play following McMahon’s catch that never was, Carlos Correa grounded into a force out at second base that brought Yordan Alvarez, who led off the inning with a double, home to reduce the Yankees’ lead to 4-2. Houston challenged the out call at second base, thinking that José Caballero’s foot came off the bag before the ball entered his glove, but the out call on the field stood.
Rodón used Houston’s failed challenge as momentum to strike out Christian Walker, and he ended the inning by getting Yainer Diaz to fly out to center field. Rodón tossed 109 pitches across a gritty six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks. His 16 wins lead all American League pitchers.
Historically, in Rodón’s Yankees tenure, when the events of an inning don’t go his way, he tends to bend and break. Last night, he demonstrated a newfound ability to battle through adversity instead of faltering. It’s a skill he’s shown all season, ever since he was honored with the start on Opening Day.
“It was my turn to pick [my teammates] up,” said Rodón. “They’ve picked me up all season.”
The Yankees were challenged again in the seventh inning when Luke Weaver came out of the bullpen. He had given up the lead to Houston on Wednesday, but he wasn’t able to bounce back yesterday. He immediately gave up a home run to the pinch-hitting Jesús Sanchez to bring the Astros within one run of the Yankees, and after striking out Ramón Urías and Taylor Trammell, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez ended his night with a couple of singles.
Fernando Cruz then entered the game, and he confidently sent Jose Altuve down swinging on his impressive splitter that has made him one of the Yankees’ best relievers this season. Cruz is never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve. He knows how to get key outs and make baseball’s best hitters look like fools.
“Today, I felt like [my splitter] was the best since I came off the IL,” said Cruz. “[Altuve] thought it was a fastball and swung over it. I’m all about passion. I feel a lot for this team. I feel a lot for my boys. To win a series in this place is a tough thing, and for me coming out of it [with the strikeout in the seventh inning], I knew we had a really good chance after that of winning the game, so my emotions just exploded.”
The Yankees used the momentum provided by Cruz to plow ahead in the eighth inning. Giancarlo Stanton worked a walk against Kaleb Ort, and so did Austin Wells. With two outs, Ryan McMahon singled off the glove of shortstop Jeremy Peña to score pinch-runner Jasson Domínguez, and then Trent Grisham stepped up to the plate.
Mr. Clutch Grisham drilled the second pitch he saw deep into the Houston night for a massive, game-breaking three-run home run. The blast marked Grisham’s 30th of the season and the 100th of his career, and it put the Yankees ahead 8-3. Before this year, Grisham had never hit more than 17 home runs in a single season. His teammates call him the Big Sleep because of the nonchalant attitude he demonstrates whenever he homers or makes impressive defensive plays.
“For the guys to come out and build a lead, have the Astros come back, and then just keep pulling away and some big performances out of the pen to finish it off, just a really good win to finish off a good road trip here and a big road series win,” said Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Although it wasn’t a save situation, the Yankees summoned David Bednar to pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning. He quickly surrendered a single to Victor Caratini and a double to Taylor Trammell before Jeremy Peña sharply lined a curveball into Anthony Volpe’s glove. Yordan Alvarez then singled to plate Caratini, and Jose Altuve walked to load the bases with just one out. Remarkably, Bednar regained composure and struck out Carlos Correa and Christian Walker to end the game.
“This [series] took some months and years off me, for sure,” said Boone. “But look, really, really gritty, good performance by the guys, especially as they started to come back off how emotional [Wednesday] night was and everything.”
The only blemish for the Yankees last night was Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s injury. He pulled himself out of the game in the fourth inning due to soreness in both knees. He injured one knee in the third inning while tagging out Jose Altuve, who struck him with his helmet as he slid into second base. The second knee injury most likely occurred in the fourth inning when Chisholm struck out on three pitches.
Chisholm was diagnosed with contusions in both knees, and losing him would be devastating for the Yankees. Chisholm has a .288 batting average and a 1.099 OPS with seven home runs in his last 15 games. “We just went to check and see if there were any ligament damages or anything like that, just to make sure they were good and no tears, no crazy stuff going on,” said Chisholm. “We’re good.”
The Yankees’ second baseman hopes to recover in time for tonight’s important game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
George Springer, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays rank three games ahead of the Yankees for first place in the American League East. Tonight, at 7:05 PM (6:05 PM CDT), they will visit the Bronx in what promises to be an exciting matchup (YES). The Yankees can make a statement if they win this series, but they must at least maintain equal footing in the standings by the end of it.
The hard-throwing rookie RHP Cam Schlittler (2-2, 2.61 ERA) takes the mound for the Yankees tonight against RHP Kevin Gausman (8-10, 3.75 ERA).
Tomorrow, at 1:05 PM (12:05 PM CDT), RHP Luis Gil (2-1, 3.68 ERA) toes the slab against the mighty veteran RHP Max Scherzer (5-2, 4.11 ERA).
Then, on Sunday at 1:35 PM (12:35 PM CDT), southpaw Max Fried (15-5, 2.98 ERA) looks to make another impressive start against a tough customer in RHP Chris Bassitt (11-7, 4.10).
Yankees Transactions:
9/5: NYY activated LF Austin Slater from the 10-day injured list
9/5: NYY optioned C JC Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Giants
Week 1 kicks off on Sunday at 1 PM (12 PM CDT) as the New York Giants visit the Washington Commanders. Russell Wilson is scheduled to start at quarterback, and the Giants have something to prove against Washington, a team that surprised everyone last season by advancing to the NFC Championship Game. The Giants are eager to put their 3-14 record behind them and get a win against a division opponent.
“I understand we have to get off to a fast start,” said running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. “We’re trying to play our best ball for the first game of the 2025 season, because, if you win that first game, it’s kind of a ripple effect on the next game.”
The Giants must bring everything they have to this Week 1 matchup. A win could mean a lot, but if they just play their best football, it will be enough to give them the confidence they need to have a successful season.
“So, the first game of the season every year is being able to adjust and do the things you need to in-game,” said head coach Brian Daboll. “But, no question, it’s a good football team. There’s a reason why they were in that [Championship] game.”
Read more in today’s special edition of Big Blue Review, which can be found on agmports.org.
Schedule
Tonight 9/5:
3:00 PM (2:00 PM CDT): 2025 US Open, First Men’s Singles Semifinal – N. Djokovic [7] vs. C. Alcaraz [2]; Arthur Ashe Stadium; ESPN
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CDT): 2025 US Open, Second Men’s Singles Semifinal – J. Sinner [1] vs. F. Auger-Aliassime [25]; Arthur Ashe Stadium; ESPN
7:05 PM (6:05 PM CDT): NYY vs. TOR; YES; SP: RHP Cam Schlittler (2-2, 2.61 ERA)
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): 2025 NFL São Paulo Game – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers; YouTube
Saturday 9/6:
1:05 PM (12:05 PM CDT): NYY vs. TOR; YES; SP: RHP Luis Gil (2-1, 3.68 ERA)
4:00 PM (3:00 PM CDT): 2025 US Open, Women’s Singles Championship – A. Sabalenka [1] vs. A. Anisimova [8]; Arthur Ashe Stadium; ESPN
Sunday 9/7:
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): NFL on CBS, Week 1 –New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers; CBS, Paramount+
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): NFL on FOX, Week 1 – New York Giants at Washington Commanders; FOX
1:35 PM (12:35 PM CDT): NYY vs. TOR; YES; SP: LHP Max Fried (15-5, 2.98 ERA)
2:00 PM (1:00 PM CDT): 2025 US Open, Men’s Singles Championship; Arthur Ashe Stadium; ABC
1:00 PM (12:00 PM CDT): 2025 US Open – Men’s Championship Preview Show; ABC
8:20 PM (7:20 PM CDT): Sunday Night Football (SNF), Week 1 – Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills; NBC, Peacock
7:00 PM (6:00 PM CDT): Football Night in America (FNIA), Week 1; NBC
8:00 PM (7:00 PM CDT): Hyundai Sunday Night Kickoff; NBC, Peacock
8:10 PM (7:10 PM CDT): GEICO Sunday Night Anthem; NBC, Peacock
