Two seventh-inning, two-run homers lifted the Yankees to a 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on May 18, 2026. Aaron Judge kept the inning alive with a two-out single, Cody Bellinger tied it with a drive into the right-center bullpen, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s shot off the left-field foul pole put New York ahead. David Bednar closed a tense ninth, striking out George Springer for his 11th save in 13 chances. The victory snapped a 2-7 road trip and nudged New York's record in one-run games to 4-10.

The read from Monday night is simple. The Yankees needed late power and they got it, twice, with two-run homers that turned a 5-3 deficit into a 7-5 lead in the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium on May 18, 2026.

The rally began with two outs in the seventh. Aaron Judge singled off reliever Yariel Rodríguez to keep the inning alive. Cody Bellinger followed and drove a low splitter into the right-center bullpen for a two-run homer that tied the game. New York didn't stop there. Trent Grisham came on as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk to put a runner on. Jazz Chisholm Jr. then sliced a slider down the left-field line. The ball struck the foul pole for a two-run homer that gave the Yankees the lead. Chisholm celebrated by flipping his bat, pounding his chest and mimicking a basketball jump shot while rounding the bases.

Those swings erased a game Toronto had shaped earlier. The Blue Jays took a 3-1 lead in the fourth and pushed in two more runs in the seventh to go up 5-3. Ernie Clement produced four RBIs for Toronto, including a three-run homer, and George Springer hit his first home run since March 30. The scoring edge shifted back and forth until New York's late burst.

Relief work decided the game after the seventh-inning rally. Paul Blackburn provided length in relief earlier, holding the Blue Jays while New York found its offense. Bednar entered the ninth with a 7-5 lead and a close finish awaited. He walked Ernie Clement to begin the frame and then yielded an RBI double to Jesús Sánchez. That cut the lead to 7-6 and put immediate pressure on the Yankees.

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Bednar responded in pieces. He struck out Brandon Valenzuela and then issued a walk to Yohendrick Piñango, which brought the tying run to the plate.

Bednar fell behind George Springer 3-0, but then struck him out. He followed by inducing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. into a groundout to end the game.

Bednar allowed a run in the ninth but still recorded the final out and his 11th save in 13 chances.

The save capped a night when the Yankees needed both timely hitting and late relief to escape with a one-run victory.

The win also snapped a rough stretch. New York had opened the homestand after a 2-7 trip, and the victory improved the club's record in one-run games to 4-10. That mark matters more than it might look on the surface, because close games have been where the Yankees must find consistency to climb the standings.

Catcher Austin Wells remained out of the starting lineup for the second straight day.

The teams were set to meet again the following night at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees were scheduled to start right-hander Will Warren, and the Blue Jays were scheduled to counter with right-hander Dylan Cease. This next matchup will offer another chance for New York to build momentum at home against an AL East opponent.

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Will Warren was scheduled to start for New York, with Dylan Cease pitching for Toronto the next night at Yankee Stadium.

This article was created with AI assistance.