Pitching and defense the recipe for Yankees' 5th straight win

TAMPA – All offseason, the Yankees quietly bristled as their defensive shortcomings were re-examined, a frequent topic in dissecting why a long-awaited return to the World Series didn’t go their way. Run prevention was a buzzy topic among decision-makers, along with a promise that efforts would be more buttoned-up in the new season.

That sparkling defense was on display Friday, particularly from shortstop Anthony Volpe, who ranged deep into the hole for one highlight-reel putout and flawlessly executed a relay that wiped out another threat. The Yankees won their fifth consecutive game, a 1-0 victory over the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

“We work really, really hard on the plays on the physical side, but I think the communication has been great,” Volpe said. “Guys are feeding off each other and just want to back up the pitchers. It’s kind of a contagious feeling on defense; once the ball is put in play, it’s going to be an out.”

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt also spearheaded a textbook fourth-inning rundown that nabbed José Caballero attempting to score against a drawn-in infield, keeping Carlos Rodón’s line clean over six scoreless innings. It marked the Yanks’ first 1-0 victory since June 24, 2023, at Texas.

“I look back at the game defensively and we were pretty impeccable,” said Rodón, who permitted just two hits, walking four and striking out nine in a 102-pitch performance (58 strikes). “We took some hits away. I think it’s just a great team win.”

Goldschmidt had three hits to raise his batting average to .373, and he leads the Majors with 10 multihit games. Trent Grisham’s second-inning, broken-bat RBI single off Drew Rasmussen held up as the game’s only run.

“That’s the fun thing about baseball – you just never know when the biggest at-bat is going to be of the game,” Grisham said. “It just so happened the biggest at-bat for me was in the second inning.”

Though Rodón’s outing was statistically his best of the year thus far, manager Aaron Boone opined that it was “a little bit of a grind” compared to his previous two, which were impacted by walks and costly homers.

Saying that he felt like he “had a little more with the fastball,” Rodón kept the ball in the yard and threw strikes more than not. His defense was able to do the rest.

That was thanks in large part to Volpe, despite his inconsistent results at the plate so far this season. Volpe went hitless in four trips to the plate on Friday, and he has just three hits in his past 34 at-bats.

But Volpe dazzled in the field, beginning in the fourth inning, when he ranged onto the outfield grass to flag a Curtis Mead liner. Volpe whipped a strong throw across his body to first base, where Goldschmidt scooped the ball on a hop – a play that Boone said was “as good as you’re going to see.”

“That one is just reaction, but we practice those a lot,” said Volpe, who credited infield coach Travis Chapman’s influence. “I’ve been spoiled, having Rizz [Anthony Rizzo] and Goldy play first for me. It’s the worst feeling in the world, knowing the ball is going to be in the dirt when it’s on the way, but once they pick it, you feel really good about it.”

Volpe then made another excellent throw in the seventh, when Jonathan Aranda crushed a drive that hit the wall in center field. Grisham fumbled the pickup momentarily, then fed Volpe, who cut down Aranda attempting to leg out a triple.

Rays manager Kevin Cash complimented Volpe’s execution, saying, “He’s as good as anybody getting rid of the ball, quick and accurate – and he did.”

“It’s just so valuable,” Boone said, “to have someone like that at a premier position out there, to have him play the way he does.”

The Rays flashed some leather, too, in an enjoyable taut duel. Caballero made a sensational leaping grab at the right-field wall in the eighth inning, robbing what would have been a two-run homer for Ben Rice.

But the Bombers’ bullpen sealed the pitching-and-defense contest, with Fernando Cruz and Luke Weaver each pitching a spotless inning, striking out two apiece.

“There were a lot of really good things, where you kind of needed to be perfect,” Boone said.