Grisham, Rice and Chisholm lead Yankees' late-inning breakthrough to win series vs. Blue Jays

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Aug 23, 2026

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — The Yankees got back one of their best bats on Sunday afternoon with the return of Cody Bellinger, but it was others in the lineup who delivered the biggest blows.

Five different Yankees drove in at least one run in an 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the Bronx, clinching a series victory over their division rival.

The offense came alive in the later innings, including a decisive three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, all with two outs.

Trent Grisham worked a bases-loaded walk against right-handed reliever Braydon Fisher in that inning to break a 2-2 tie, and Ben Rice followed with a two-run single off of left-hander Mason Fluharty.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a two-run home run against lefty Brendon Little in the bottom of the seventh, putting the Yankees up, 7-2, and serving as the dagger.

It was the biggest offensive output by the Yankees since Aug. 12, when they scored 10 runs in a home win over Seattle.

The Yankees’ injury-ravaged lineup has been mired in a months-long scuffle amid the absences of heavy hitters such as Aaron Judge (rib fracture) and Giancarlo Stanton (calf strains).

Bellinger missed the past four weeks with a left hamstring strain, a 25-game stretch in which the Yankees averaged just 3.5 runs per game.

While Bellinger contributed Sunday after being activated from the IL — he went 1 for 4 and scored on Chisholm’s homer — the Yankees’ biggest difference-makers were a pair of All-Stars who seem to be emerging from their respective slumps.

Rice began the day hitting .121 (8-for-66) with a .539 OPS in August before going 2 for 5 in Sunday’s win.

Chisholm was hitting .172 (10 for 58) with a .537 OPS this month, and he hadn’t homered since Aug. 4 before Sunday’s 364-foot blast — his 18th homer of the season.

The second baseman went 2 for 4 on Sunday, his second straight two-hit game.

Spencer Jones and Austin Wells delivered an RBI double apiece in Sunday’s second inning, while Grisham tacked on a solo home run — his 18th homer — in the eighth.

Making his second start since coming off the injured list for elbow inflammation, Carlos Rodón threw 76 pitches and allowed two runs (one earned) over four innings with two strikeouts and walks.

Rodón continues to ramp up at the major league level, having thrown 66 pitches in his previous outing last week in Baltimore. The Yankees activated Rodón ahead of schedule when Max Fried landed on the IL due to a recurrence of his left elbow bone bruise.

On Sunday, Rodón had a chance to go deeper, but shortstop George Lombard Jr. booted a potential inning-ending double play grounder off the bat of Ernie Clement in the top of the fourth.

The error preceded a sacrifice fly by Daz Cameron, which tied the game, 2-2, and forced Rodón to throw an additional 12 pitches to complete the inning.

Touted for his glove, the 21-year-old Lombard has now made an error in three consecutive games.

Lombard began the day with seven defensive runs saved (DRS) through 16 career MLB games — an excellent rating in the advanced metric. Outside of the miscue, Lombard still delivered two more defensive highlights in Sunday’s win.

The Yankees (74-56) have won six of their last seven games, including taking two of three from Toronto. They remain three games back in American League East of the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays, who won Sunday in Baltimore.

After an off-day Monday, the Yankees are set to continue their homestand on Tuesday night, when they begin a three-game series against the Houston Astros.