The New York Yankees continued their sizzling start to the season Saturday night, rallying late to defeat the Miami Marlins 9–7 behind a clutch eighth-inning swing from Giancarlo Stanton and an unexpected dash around the bases that energized the crowd earlier in the game.
Stanton snapped a 6–6 tie in the eighth inning with a go-ahead two-run single to left field off reliever Michael Petersen, capping a frame in which the Marlins issued three costly walks. The hit proved decisive as the Yankees improved to 7–1, their best start through eight games in seven seasons.
Earlier, Stanton delivered a rare surprise on the basepaths. In the seventh inning, he stole second base his first regular-season steal since Aug. 3, 2020 drawing cheers from the crowd and setting the tone for New York’s late push.
Miami briefly tied the game in dramatic fashion in the eighth when Javier Sanoja drilled a two-run double off Camilo Doval, but the Yankees answered immediately in their final at-bat of the inning to reclaim control.
Brett Headrick (1–0) recorded key outs to finish the eighth inning and earn the victory, while David Bednar worked through late trouble in the ninth. After loading the bases, Bednar settled down to secure his fourth save of the young season and seal New York’s fourth straight win.
Cody Bellinger played a major role in the comeback effort. With the Yankees trailing by four runs early, he sparked the rally with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, then lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth to give New York a 5–4 lead. Trent Grisham ignited that sixth-inning surge with an RBI single before Aaron Judge followed with a game-tying base hit off Anthony Bender.
Patience at the plate again proved to be a winning formula for New York. After drawing 11 walks in Friday’s 8–2 victory, the Yankees followed with 10 more free passes Saturday night, repeatedly forcing Marlins pitchers into stressful situations.
Left-hander Ryan Weathers, making a start against his former club after being acquired from Miami on Jan. 13, lasted just 3⅔ innings. He allowed three runs on six hits but kept the Yankees within striking distance long enough for the offense to mount its comeback.
The game also featured an unusual midgame interruption in the fourth inning when plate umpire Ron Kulpa exited after taking a foul ball off his mask. First-base umpire Scott Barry moved behind the plate, and the contest finished with a three-umpire crew.
In the end, Stanton’s bat and even his legs helped headline another gritty comeback as the Yankees continued one of the hottest starts in baseball to open the season.
