NEW YORK -- The Yankees played their second straight game without Aaron Judge on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium and first with him on the injured list because of a right elbow flexor strain.
With Judge out of action for at least two weeks, the Yankees need the rest of the roster to step up, and it was newcomer Ryan McMahon who came through during New York’s 4-3 victory over the Phillies.
McMahon, who was traded to New York on Friday, went 2-for-3, drove in two runs and made a couple of nice defensive plays at third base.
The big hit by McMahon came in the second. With the Phillies up, 2-0, and right-hander Zack Wheeler on the mound, the Yankees had the bases loaded with no outs when McMahon doubled past first baseman Bryce Harper to score Giancarlo Stanton and Jazz Chisholm Jr. and tie the score at 2.
“I’m just excited to do something to help the team. Wins are important right now,” McMahon said. “I’m happy to do some solid stuff out there and [I'm] ready for the next one. … It’s always good to come through with the stick.”
In that same inning, Jasson Domínguez scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Austin Wells, while McMahon scored what turned out to be the Yankees’ final run of the game on a single by Trent Grisham.
The runs in the second were enough to help left-hander Carlos Rodón win his 11th game of the season. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs, all coming on solo homers.
Philadelphia had a chance to tie the score in the fifth, but McMahon saved the day. The Phillies had runners on first and second with one out after Otto Kemp hit his second homer of the day to make it a one-run game. Trea Turner came to the plate and hit the ball between short and third, but McMahon made a nice sliding play to his left and threw Turner out at first base.
“I went to my left. I kind of got spun around when I went down to get it,” McMahon said. “As I was getting up, I realized my only play was at first base and I chucked it over there.”
Yes, McMahon has been in Yankee pinstripes for two days and he has already made a positive impression on manager Aaron Boone.
“The play he makes on Turner -- [McMahon] has that kind of ease in which he does it. It was pretty impressive. He had a couple of other good ones, and obviously the big hit there,” Boone said.
Defense has been McMahon’s calling card ever since he entered the Major Leagues in 2017, but that wasn’t the case when he was in the Rockies' farm system four years earlier. He made a lot of errors -- 39 to be exact with High-A Modesto in 2015. But that changed once he went to his first big league camp and met then-teammates such as Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu.
“Trevor Story had a huge impact on me,” McMahon said. “Obviously, watching Nolan, DJ’s work ethic is where I learned to get after it. When you have those three guys and you are 20 years old and in your first big league camp, you are going to learn a lot if you just shut up, watch and pay attention.”
What was the biggest lesson he learned about defense?
“Once I got with Nolan, I noticed he fielded everything one-handed,” McMahon said. “I talked to him a little bit about that. I made a bunch of errors in the Minors. I felt once I switched to that [routine], that really helped me out.”
McMahon believes defense is a mental choice. You have to be ready for every pitch.
“I think it’s a commitment. I think it’s how you show your team that you care,” he said.
According to Boone, McMahon already feels at ease in the Big Apple.
“On the surface, he looks settled and comfortable,” the skipper said. “I think he has some real offensive upside that will hopefully continue to lengthen our lineup.”