Jasson and Goldy Fleece Skubal in Yankees 4-2 Win

by John Nielsen

June 25, 2026

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On a night when Tarik Skubal seemed to have returned to near-mythic form, Jasson Dominguez and Paul Goldschmidt heroically supplied enough punch for the New York Yankees to defeat the Detroit Tigers, 4-2, at Comerica Park. The epic win secured another series victory for the first-place Yankees, who improved to 48–31 and maintained a three-game lead over Tampa Bay in the American League East as the season approached its midpoint.

Skubal (3-4), making his third start since recovering from nanoneedle elbow surgery in early May, seemed to have his “A-game” back Wednesday night. Armed with a devastating five-pitch arsenal he overwhelmed New York hitters for much of the evening. According to Statcast, his four-seam fastball averaged 97.5 mph and touched 99.6. Skubal, still working on a pitch count, was limited to 85 pitches, but got 21 swinging strikes as he struck out nine and walked none. He got two strikeouts each from his fastball, changeup, sinker and curveball.  The Yankees seemed helpless at times, with his changeup, and its combined vertical and horizontal break, standing out as his most effective weapon.

The consecutive two-year reigning Cy Young Award winner (the first the Yankees have faced since Pedro Martinez in 2001) allowed only 4 hits over six innings. However, three of them were of the longball variety.

Goldschmidt opened the game by launching his 13th home run of the season, giving New York an early 1–0 lead. Detroit answered in the second when Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored on a Zach McKinstry single.

In the third inning, Goldschmidt struck again, sending another Skubal offering over the leftfield wall to restore a one-run Yankees advantage. The Tigers tied the game at 2–2 in the fourth after a Domínguez fielding error helped set up a sacrifice fly by rookie Ben Malgeri, again scoring Torkelson.

That was all the scoring offense Detroit would muster.

Ryan Weathers (3-5) – backed by several outstanding defensive plays by center fielder Max Schuemann (starting his first game in center field for New York) and left fielder Cody Bellinger – had a strong performance of his own. Weathers threw 97 pitches over six innings, allowing two runs (one earned), on six hits and two walks, while striking out six.

The game’s final heroics were reserved for Dominguez.

After striking out in each of his first two plate appearances against Skubal, Domínguez finally seized his prize from the stingy left hander. With Ben Rice aboard, two outs, and a full count, the young outfielder hit a towering drive into the left-field seats. Like Jason claiming the Golden Fleece from a seemingly unbeatable guardian, this Jasson’s two-run homer—his third of the season—turned a deadlocked game into a 4–2 Yankee lead.

For the second night in a row the Yankee bullpen preserved the advantage. This time Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and David Bednar combined for three scoreless innings. Cruz recorded all four of his outs on devastating splitters, while Bednar earned his 16th save and extended his scoreless streak to 11 consecutive appearances dating back to May 18.

The Yankees flew to Boston overnight to begin a four-game series with the Red Sox, beginning Thursday evening. The Yankees are expected to start Cam Schlittler (8-3/1.71) in the series opener to be followed by Will Warren (7-2/3.45), Gerrit Cole (2-2/3.62)  and Carlos Rodon (4-2/3.70) through the weekend. Last place Boston (32-46) is expected to counter with, in order, lefthanders Connelly Early (6-5/3.64), Payton Tolle (3-5/3.08), and Jake Bennett (1-3/3.71) followed by right-hander Sonny Gray (9-1/2.95) to close out the series on Sunday night.

GAME NOTES

• The Yankees got offense on Wednesday exclusively from the top four hitters in the lineup: Goldschmidt, Rice, Dominguez and Bellinger. Hitters five through nine went a combined 0 for 16 with only Schuemann reaching base after being hit by a pitch. New York left just two runners on base, while Detroit stranded nine.

• Ryan McMahon was placed on the 10-day Injured List with an ear and throat infection

• Oswaldo Cabrera was called up from Triple-A to fill McMahon’s vacant roster spot. Cabrera, who hasn’t played in the major leagues since breaking his ankle in May 2025, produced a slash line of .271/.330/.397 (OPS .727/OPS+ 104) in 294 plate appearances at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.