As they try to stage a big resurgence, the Yankees are beginning to use daily comebacks to climb back into playoff position.
Their latest came Saturday in The Bronx, where they overcame a three-run deficit to beat the Mariners 5-4 for their fifth straight win — including four straight come-from-behind victories.
The Yankees (61-49) clinched the series over the Mariners (58-54) — who had arrived in The Bronx on Thursday just one game back of the Bombers in the AL wild-card standings — using late rallies each time. Joey Gallo and Brett Gardner delivered the winning hits in the first two games before the Yankees used a less dramatic approach, with some help from the Mariners, to complete their comeback Saturday — their 31st comeback win of the season.
“Honestly, it’s been a little while since we’ve had that kind of confidence,” said DJ LeMahieu, who got in a pickle between first and second to allow time for the go-ahead run to score in a four-run sixth inning. “With that confidence, everyone’s having a little bit more fun and locking in. The come-from-behind wins do a lot for a team.”
With their 10th win in the past 12 games, the Yankees inched closer to the final playoff spot in the American League, getting within one game of the Athletics (who played Saturday afternoon against the Rangers).
“We knew things would turn around,” Aaron Judge said. “I just don’t think anybody outside our room really believed it.”
It didn’t look promising early Saturday. Andrew Heaney, who gave up four home runs in four innings in his Yankees debut Monday, gave up four runs through his first two innings this time. But he stopped the bleeding just in time — after a 40-pitch second inning — to go six innings on 109 pitches, saving a thin bullpen and giving his offense a chance to win it.
“Heaney’s a bulldog,” said Judge, whose solo home run in the first inning was the Yankees’ only run as they entered the sixth trailing 4-1 before finally making their move.
Giancarlo Stanton started the rally with his second single of the day before Rougned Odor went down to one knee to hook a two-run home run to the short porch in right field. The 328-foot homer (which Stacast said had an expected batting average of .030) made it 4-3 and knocked former Met Chris Flexen out of the game.
“Just a whole new ballgame after that swing,” LeMahieu said.
One out later, the Mariners served up a gift on pinch-hitter Gleyber Torres’ innocent fly ball to right field. Mitch Haniger stumbled on the dirt while trying to backtrack and failed to catch the ball. Torres reached third on the error.
Kyle Higashioka, who left seven men on base Friday night in an 0-for-5 effort, pinch-hit next and smoked a ground-rule double to left field to tie the score 4-4.
“That was huge today, those guys coming off the bench and contributing,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We didn’t know how we were necessarily going to do it today, but a really good job by everyone of just knowing the importance, keep playing, hang around and they got it done.”
After LeMahieu singled to put runners on the corners, he used some heads-up baserunning to put the Yankees ahead. Anthony Rizzo hit a grounder to first base. Ty France stepped on the first-base bag and tried to turn a double play at second. But LeMahieu got into a pickle, allowing Higashioka to score from third for the 5-4 lead.
Clay Holmes, Joely Rodriguez and Jonathan Loaisiga (closing for the injured Aroldis Chapman) combined to throw the final three innings to secure another win.
“We’re playing for a lot and everyone is keenly aware of that,” Boone said. “They’re hungry in there, they’re playing well and they know they gotta keep playing well.”
