ARLINGTON -- The Yankees averted a crisis Wednesday -- or at least postponed one -- thanks to a big swing by Paul Goldschmidt and a super-sized save by newly acquired right-hander David Bednar.
Goldschmidt’s pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field, along with Bednar’s five-out save, helped snap the Yankees’ five-game losing streak and keep them ahead of the Rangers and Guardians at third place in the American League Wild Card standings.
Bednar eventually was tasked with tacking down that one-run lead, and he worked overtime to do it, throwing 42 pitches (25 strikes) over 1 2/3 innings for his 18th save of the season and first as a Yankee. Bednar recorded each of his five outs on a strikeout.
“What a great, gutsy effort,” manager Aaron Boone said of Bednar’s outing.
Acquired from the Pirates at the Trade Deadline, Bednar hadn’t thrown that many pitches in an appearance since 2022. It looked as though he was finished after 35 pitches, when he put two men on base with two outs in the ninth. At that point, Boone emerged from the dugout.
The skipper said he had every intention of pulling Bednar then. But instead, Bednar persuaded Boone to let him face Adolis García, who whiffed on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
“I didn't even see him coming,” Bednar said of Boone’s mound visit. “I was just kind of getting my mind right to face García. I told [Boone] I wanted him, and he agreed, and I just wanted to bear down and get that last one.”
Bednar entered the game with one out in the eighth and struck out the first four batters he faced before running into trouble with one out to go. He walked Corey Seager and allowed a bloop single to Marcus Semien. That’s when Boone trotted to the mound.
“I was going to take him out, honestly,” Boone said. “I said, ‘I’m going to take you here,’ and he gave me a look like, ‘No, you’re not.’ I said, ‘Are you sure?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go -- I got this guy,’ and we rolled with it. ... That’s a dog effort, right there. I love that mentality.”
After the Yankees’ bullpen blew late leads in each of the first two games of the series, Bednar and three other relievers held the Rangers scoreless for the final four innings Wednesday. The quartet of Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill, Yerry de los Santos and Bednar united to bolster starter Carlos Rodón after the lefty dealt with heavy traffic for much of his five-plus innings. Rodón allowed six hits and walked four, but he held Texas to two runs and turned over a tie game to the bullpen.
“It was kind of a battle. ... I fell behind guys at times and just tried to minimize damage,” Rodón said. “Obviously, I'd like to go longer than that and be more economical with pitches. The walks aren't helping. I’ve got to get ahead and get quicker outs.”
The Yankees’ infield bailed out Rodón with critical double plays in the second, third and sixth innings. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a hand in each of those highlights, including a dazzling play in the second inning when he ranged far to his left and made a long, perfect flip to second base.
The defense kept the Yankees in the game until Goldschmidt put them ahead.
Goldschmidt didn’t start against righty Jack Leiter, but he came in to hit against beleaguered Rangers reliever Robert Garcia. Goldschmidt fell behind 0-2, fouled off the third pitch and launched the fourth one -- a fastball that caught too much of the plate, up in the zone -- into the left-field seats.
Goldschmidt had three hits Monday in a performance that was overshadowed by a bullpen collapse during an 8-5 loss in 10 innings. He came to Texas on a 2-for-24 (.083) slump but went 4-for-10 in the series with two homers and a double. Coming off the bench to hit isn’t something the 15th-year veteran has much familiarity with, but he was clearly comfortable doing it Wednesday.
“I just kind of treat it like my first at-bat out of the game,” Goldschmidt said. “I don't try to really overthink it or do anything different, I just try to be ready just like I would my first at-bat. Hitting leadoff I think has kind of helped, too, where you just step in the box and you’ve got to be ready to go. So that's kind of the mindset. Fortunate to be able to get the job done today.”