Yankees Rally in Ninth, Beat Braves 3-2 in 10 Innings/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ The Yankees scored twice with two outs in the ninth before beating the Braves 3-2 in 10 innings. Ben Rice delivered the tying hit, and Ryan McMahon’s sacrifice fly drove in the winning run. The loss ended Atlanta’s eight-game winning streak after a rain delay of nearly two hours.
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees rallied with two outs in the ninth inning and defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in 10 innings Friday night, completing a dramatic comeback in a rain-delayed game that ended after midnight.
Ben Rice drove a tying single off the right-field fence in the ninth before Ryan McMahon delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th.
The Yankees entered the ninth trailing 2-0 and were down to their final out against All-Star closer Raisel Iglesias.
Austin Wells, who had been struggling at the plate, began the comeback by doubling home New York’s first run. Amed Rosario then walked before Rice connected with a 1-0 changeup and drove it off the right-field wall to tie the game.
Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch to load the bases, prompting Atlanta to bring in Dylan Dodd. Dodd retired Luis García Jr. on a groundout to prevent the Yankees from completing the comeback in regulation.
David Bednar kept Atlanta scoreless in the top of the 10th, aided by two difficult defensive plays.
Rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. made an off-balance throw to retire Sean Murphy on a ground ball. García then made an over-the-shoulder catch at first base on Ronald Acuña Jr.’s popup to end the inning.
García began the bottom of the 10th as New York’s automatic runner.
With one out, Atlanta intentionally walked rookie Spencer Jones. Lombard then worked a walk against Tyler Kinley to load the bases.
McMahon followed with a deep sacrifice fly to right field on a full-count pitch, allowing García to score easily with the winning run.
The victory improved the Yankees to 2-8 in extra-inning games and 5-42 when trailing after eight innings.
Bednar earned the win and improved to 5-3, while Kinley took the loss and fell to 6-5.
Yankees left-hander Max Fried delivered 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his first appearance against the Braves, the team with which he spent his first eight major league seasons.
Fried left Atlanta in free agency and signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in December 2024.
His strong performance continued an impressive stretch for New York’s rotation. It marked the eighth time in 10 games that a Yankees starter allowed no more than one run.
Fried did not receive a decision because the Yankees were held scoreless while he was in the game.
Atlanta starter Tyler Mahle matched Fried with six scoreless innings in his debut for the Braves.
The pitchers kept the game scoreless through six innings before Atlanta broke through against New York’s bullpen.
Austin Riley hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to give the Braves a 1-0 advantage. Matt Olson added another solo homer in the ninth, extending the lead to 2-0.
The two late home runs appeared sufficient until Iglesias could not secure the final out in the bottom of the ninth.
The Yankees’ comeback ended Atlanta’s eight-game winning streak. The Braves remained atop the National League East despite the loss.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms delayed the game’s opening pitch by 1 hour and 55 minutes.
The late start, combined with extra innings, pushed the conclusion past midnight at Yankee Stadium.
Despite the lengthy wait and being held scoreless for eight innings, New York produced three runs across its final two turns at bat to complete the comeback.
The series continues Saturday with a marquee pitching matchup between two Cy Young Award winners on Old Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium.
Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale, who is 12-6 with a 2.08 ERA, is scheduled to make his first start since July 29.
He will face Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole, who enters the game with a 5-5 record and a 3.42 ERA.
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