Yankees Rally Past Braves in Extra-Inning Victory

In a thrilling match on Friday night, the New York Yankees overcame the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in a game that extended past midnight due to rain delays. Ben Rice delivered a crucial tying single in the ninth inning that hit the right-field fence. Ryan McMahon secured the win with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.

This victory improved New York’s record to 2-8 in extra-inning games and stopped the Braves’ overall eight-game winning streak as NL East leaders. Max Fried of the Yankees and Tyler Mahle of the Braves both impressed with scoreless outings, Fried pitching 6 1/3 innings against his former team and Mahle completing six innings in his debut for Atlanta.

Atlanta initially took the lead with home runs by Austin Riley in the eighth and Matt Olson in the ninth, placing them 2-0 ahead. Down to their final out, the Yankees fought back. Austin Wells responded with a double against Braves’ closer Raisel Iglesias, bringing in a run. Amed Rosario walked, followed by Rice’s single on a 1-0 changeup. Heliot Ramos was struck by a pitch, loading the bases, but Dylan Dodd managed to halt the threat by retiring Luis García Jr. on a groundout, sending the game to extra innings.

The Yankees’ rally resumed as rookie George Lombard Jr. reached third on an infield single and a throwing error by Iglesias. David Bednar’s pitching in the 10th helped keep the game even, aided by Lombard’s quick throw from shortstop and García’s catch of Ronald Acuña Jr.’s popup.

In the bottom of the 10th, Spencer Jones was intentionally walked, while Lombard drew another walk from Tyler Kinley, filling the bases. García, the automatic runner, scored comfortably on McMahon’s deep sacrifice fly to right field.

The Yankees now have a record of 5-42 when trailing through eight innings. Due to a rain delay, the game started 1 hour, 55 minutes late. This game marked the eighth in 10 that a Yankees starter allowed one run or fewer.

Max Fried, previously with the Braves for eight seasons, signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with New York in December 2024. For their next encounter, a noteworthy pitching matchup is set with Atlanta’s Chris Sale facing New York’s Gerrit Cole on Old Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium.