The Yankees' 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays wasn't decided in the ninth inning. Nor was it decided in the eighth. It was a mid-game chess move by manager Aaron Boone that swung the game, according to those watching closely.
A Risky Move That Paid Off
With the game tied 2-2 entering the top of the fifth inning, Boone lifted starter Cam Schlittler after 96 pitches and brought in Paul Blackburn. The move was praised by former Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino, who called it a decision that "tipped the scales" in New York's favor.
Blackburn responded by retiring six straight batters across the fifth and sixth innings, giving the Yankees the momentum they needed to break the game open. The Yankees' offense rewarded the pitching change in the bottom of the sixth, with Trent Grisham drawing a bases-loaded walk and Ben Rice delivering a two-run single to take a 5-2 lead.
Key Contributions and a Series Clinched
Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a two-run homer in the seventh, and Grisham followed with a solo shot in the eighth to extend the lead. The Yankees eventually won 8-3, with Ryan Yarbrough and Brent Headrick combining to pitch the final three innings.
Blackburn earned the win, improving to 5-2, as the Yankees clinched the season series against the Blue Jays. The team has now won six of their last seven games.
A Trusted Bullpen Trio
The win, however, was as much about the pitchers who didn't start the game as the ones who did. As the New York Post noted, the game was a testament to the reliability of the bullpen trio that has become a fixture for manager Aaron Boone. After Schlittler's departure, Headrick, Blackburn, and David Bednar combined to pitch the final three innings, allowing no runs.
Bednar, who earned the save, continues his strong season as a shutdown closer. The trio's performance sparked praise from general manager Brian Cashman's front office, with the team's decision to trust them in high-leverage situations during the regular season being viewed as preparation for a potential playoff run.