Yankees

Yankees Beat Rockies 6-1 Behind Lombard Grand Slam, Strong Will Warren Start

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Yankees Beat Rockies 6-1 Behind Lombard Grand Slam, Strong Will Warren Start

AI Overview

George Lombard Jr. hit his first career grand slam in the third inning, powering the Yankees to a 6-1 win over the Rockies at Yankee Stadium. The 21-year-old became the youngest Yankee to hit a grand slam since Mickey Mantle in 1952, while Will Warren allowed one run over six innings with eight strikeouts. New York improved to 83-62, and Aaron Judge went 2-for-4 in his second game back from the injured list.

George Lombard Jr. gave the Yankees one of their biggest swings of the season Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.

With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the 3rd inning, the 21-year-old rookie drove a slider into the right-field seats for his first career grand slam, turning a 1-0 Yankees lead into a 5-0 advantage over the Colorado Rockies.

It was also the Yankees’ first grand slam of the entire 2026 season.

And Lombard did it while putting himself in some serious company.

At 21 years and 99 days old, he became the youngest Yankee to hit a grand slam since Mickey Mantle in 1952 and the 2nd-youngest player in franchise history to do it.

The Yankees went on to beat Colorado 6-1, improving to 83-62 behind 3 home runs, 6 strong innings from Will Warren and a 2-hit night from Aaron Judge in his 2nd game back from the injured list.

But the moment everybody will remember from this one belonged to Lombard.

His 3rd home run of the season cleared the bases, broke the game open and gave the Yankees something they somehow had gone more than 5 months without producing this season: a grand slam.

Luis Garcia Jr. Gets It Started

After both teams went quietly in the 1st inning, Luis Garcia Jr. put the Yankees on the board in the 2nd.

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Garcia jumped on a pitch from Tomoyuki Sugano and drove it out to right-center for his 29th home run of the season, giving New York a 1-0 lead.

That lead became much bigger one inning later.

Aaron Judge singled to left with 2 outs in the 3rd for his first hit since returning from the injured list. Garcia followed with a double to right, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd.

Then Spencer Jones worked a walk.

Bases loaded.

2 outs.

George Lombard Jr. at the plate.

And boom.

Lombard drove Sugano’s slider into the right-field seats for a grand slam, scoring Judge, Garcia and Jones and suddenly making it 5-0 Yankees.

It was Lombard’s 3rd home run of the season and his first Major League grand slam.

At 21 years and 99 days old, Lombard became the youngest Yankee to hit a grand slam since Mickey Mantle did it at 20 years and 283 days old in 1952.

That’s the company this kid just stepped into.

Will Warren Shut Colorado Down

While Lombard supplied the fireworks, Warren made sure Colorado never had much of a chance to turn this into a game.

The right-hander allowed just 4 hits and 1 run over 6 innings, walking 2 and striking out 8.

Colorado’s best opportunity came in the 3rd after Connor Norby doubled and Zac Veen walked. Warren responded by striking out Jake McCarthy and Cole Carrigg before getting T.J. Rumfield to foul out.

Threat over.

Norby finally got Colorado on the board with a solo home run in the 5th, cutting the Yankees’ lead to 5-1.

Colorado then followed with 2 more hits, putting runners at the corners with 1 out.

Instead of letting the inning spiral, Warren got Carrigg to ground into a double play.

That’s exactly what you need from a starter in September. Stop the inning before it becomes a problem.

Judge Collects 2 Hits, Bellinger Adds Insurance

Judge finished 2-for-4 in his second game back from the rib injury that kept him sidelined for months.

He also handled his only real defensive opportunity in right field without an issue.

That’s another important part of this game.

Nobody should expect Judge to immediately look like the guy who was destroying baseballs before getting hurt. The Yankees just need him healthy, seeing pitches and gradually getting his timing back.

2 hits is a pretty good place to start.

Cody Bellinger added the final run in the 8th, launching his 13th home run of the season to right field for a 6-1 lead.

Judge followed with another single before Jasson Dominguez entered as a pinch runner.

Spencer Jones also doubled later in the inning and reached base 3 times overall with a hit and 2 walks.

The Yankees Took Care of Business

John Schreiber, Paul Blackburn and Michael Fulmer handled the final 3 innings without allowing a run.

Colorado finished with just 5 hits while Yankees pitching recorded 11 strikeouts.

The Yankees came into the day 4 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East, so there is no room right now for throwing away games against a 55-90 Rockies team.

This is exactly what you’re supposed to do.

Beat the bad teams.

Get Judge comfortable.

Let the young guys contribute.

And keep putting pressure on Tampa Bay.

But Wednesday night belonged to George Lombard Jr.

The rookie got one pitch with the bases loaded and turned it into a moment that put his name next to Mickey Mantle in Yankees history.

Not a bad night for the kid.

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