NEW YORK — The New York Yankees dominated the Texas Rangers with a 9-2 victory on Thursday, extending their impressive streak to 16 victories in their last 19 contests, though the win came at a cost when outfielder Jasson Domínguez sustained an injury.
Domínguez was carted off the field after colliding with the outfield wall while making a catch on Brandon Nimmo’s fly ball to start the game. Following the contest, team officials announced that Domínguez suffered a minor AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and will be placed on the injured list. Initial concussion evaluations came back negative.
Trent Grisham delivered the decisive blow with a three-run double during a decisive six-run rally in the sixth inning, helping the American League-leading Yankees capture their sixth consecutive series victory while the Rangers dropped their seventh game in their past 10 outings.
The Yankees faced an early challenge when scheduled starter Ryan Weathers was ruled out due to illness. Paul Blackburn took the mound for the opening frame, while 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Brendan Beck made his major league debut, surrendering two runs on two hits and three walks across three-plus innings.
Brent Headrick earned his third victory of the season by throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Both Grisham and Cody Bellinger collected three hits apiece in the offensive showcase.
Max Schuemann made his season debut at shortstop and recorded his first Yankees hit and RBI with a double in the seventh frame.
Texas right fielder Joc Pederson, making his first outfield appearance since 2023, contributed to the Yankees achieving a rare feat – recording two triples in the opening inning for the first time since Carlos Beltrán and Chase Headley accomplished it on April 22, 2015.
The Rangers struggled with difficult sun conditions throughout the afternoon, mishandling four separate plays. Pederson and center fielder Evan Carter both pursued Paul Goldschmidt’s opening drive off MacKenzie Gore (2-3), allowing the ball to carom into center field for a triple. Pederson later attempted a diving backhand catch on Bellinger’s liner, but the ball bounced to the wall as Goldschmidt crossed home plate.
Additional defensive miscues plagued Texas when Grisham’s fourth-inning popup landed on the infield grass in front of shortstop Corey Seager after third baseman Josh Jung retreated. Later, following Bellinger’s sixth-inning walk, left fielder Alejandro Osuna initially broke backward on Amed Rosario’s routine fly ball and couldn’t adjust as it dropped for a single.
After Ryan McMahon drew a walk, Grisham connected on an opposite-field double that reached the left-center wall, giving the Yankees a 4-2 advantage. J.C. Escarra, Aaron Judge, and Bellinger then delivered consecutive RBI singles against the Rangers’ relief pitching.
Ezequiel Durán provided Texas with two RBIs, highlighted by a third-inning home run. Rangers right-hander Peyton Gray exited the game after taking a line drive from McMahon off his pitching hand in the eighth inning.
Looking ahead, the Rangers will send RHP Kumar Rocker (1-3, 4.71) to the mound Friday night at home against the Chicago Cubs, while the Yankees will start LHP Max Fried (4-1, 2.39) in Friday night’s series opener at Milwaukee against RHP Jacob Misiorowski (2-2, 2.84).
