Yanks Win, Making It 3 In A Row!

by Paul Semendinger

July 12, 2026

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Yesterday afternoon the Yankees slept through seven innings offensively, but then exploded against the weak bullpen of the Nationals to take away the win - their third victory in a row.

The Game:

The Yankees looked like they would get off on the right foot and score early. In the top of the first inning, Amed Rosario walked. Ben Rice singled. And then two strikeouts and a lineout later, they failed to score.

In the bottom of the first, facing Cam Schlittler, James Wood led off for the Nationals and homered. One out later, Curtis Mead also homered. Schlittler retired the other batters. After one inning, the score was Nationals 2, Yankees 0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Cam Schlittler escaped a bases loaded situation without allowing a run.

In the top of the fifth, Anthony Volpe had an infield single, a very weak grounder to third that was overthrown at first. Volpe, who is supposed to be a great base runner, was them thrown out trying to reach second on the bad throw. The ball didn't get far enough away to take the chance. In almost every game I watch, Volpe does something to hurt the team - making a bad play, having a poor at bat, or making a bad decision. When people ask why there is push-back on him, it is because of this. Fans get frustrated watching an over-hyped player continually and consistently hurting the team. The fact that he is continually in the lineup is an example of the manager making decisions that negatively impacts the team.

The Yankees had back-to-back singles to open the sixth inning (Ben Rice and Trent Grisham), but a double play ground out by Paul Goldschmidt followed by a Cody Bellinger flyout made the issue moot.

Cam Schlittler didn't have his best stuff, but he battled to get into the seventh inning striking out the first two batters he faced. He was then removed and Brett Headrick was brought in. Two infield singles and a walk loaded the bases before he struck out C. J. Abrams to end Washington's threat.

Through seven innings, neither team had a hit with a runner in scoring position.

Since the Nationals' bullpen is so weak, it was only a matter of time before the Yankees broke through. (If they didn't, that would have been a problem.) With one out in the top of the eighth inning, Ryan McMahon hit a solo homer of Clayton Beeter. Ben Rice then walked. (Rice was on base four times with two hits and two walks.) Trent Grisham then hit a bomb, a two-run homer, to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

Not to be outdone, Paul Goldschmidt then homered to make it 4-2. A Cody Bellinger double ended Beeter's afternoon. Matt Krook (with a 17.36 ERA) then came into the game and escaped without any further damage.

Fernando Cruz pitched a perfect eighth inning. David Bednar closed it out.

Yanks win 4-2.

Thoughts (and such):

When people criticize the Yankees, one theme that has been constant throughout the Boone Error (ahem, Era) has been that the Yankees often play without heart. In the top of the second, Jazz Chisholm struck out on a pitch way out of the strike zone. The ball got away from the catcher. Did Chisholm run to first? No, he stood there and was tagged as he walked back to the dugout. For me, this is what makes the Yankees so frustrating and unwatchable. Players loaf, they don't show emotion (except when they are self-congratulatory), and they face no consequences. When people state that the manager has little no no impact on the team or the game, they are so so so wrong. The manager's impact on the Yankees is negative because this type of behavior is accepted and it's a big reason why the Yankees fail against better teams. There is little fire, a lack of discipline, and a manager (and front office) who accepts it all. I know there are fans that wish to deny this reality, but it's true and it's a problem.

When Michael Kay announces, he often gets into a sarcastic mode. I find it very off-putting.

I like the fact that the Nationals have a bullpen car. I wish the Yankees still did. I loved when Mariano Rivera ran in from the outfield, but Mariano doesn't pitch any longer. The old bullpen car in the 1970s and 1980s was fun.

I would love for someone to find a contemporary source for the "Mickey Rivers threw himself on the bullpen car" story (regarding Goose Gossage) that Michael Kay brought up and that seems to be repeated more and more. I never heard that story as a kid or in the many years since, until somewhat recently. I have read virtually everything on those late 1970s Yankees teams including Mickey Rivers' own autobiography and don't recall that story being in there. I also don't believe it is in The Bronx Zoo by Sparky Lyle. It seems to be an urban legend rather than a true story, but I might be wrong, so I invite the readers to share their recollections of this story. Where was the first time you heard and/or saw this story in print?

A few years ago, some readers here had fun mocking and making jokes regarding the fact that I noted that Anthony Volpe didn't walk enough. Now, even the announcers were discussing how that was a big problem with his game his first three seasons.

The Yankees are winning games against an inferior team. They should win these games. It's good that they are. These are the games they have to win.

The Yankees will make the playoffs. That seems a forgone conclusion. As I have said for years, the Yankees strive to be better than the rest of a weak league. That's not excellence, it is being kind-of okay pretty good. That approach doesn't often win in the playoffs that are less of a random sample than is claimed by some. Sure, over time it could work. It might even work this year. But it's not the way to build a team for sustained success. It's one of the frustrations I have with this iteration of the Yankees.

But, for now, we celebrate the win.

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