The New York Yankees ended a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Wednesday. Paul Goldschmidt delivered a pinch-hit solo home run in the seventh inning, and David Bednar secured his first save as a Yankee by recording the final five outs of the game.
Bednar, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Trade Deadline, threw 42 pitches over 1 2/3 innings, striking out all five batters he retired. This was his longest outing since 2022. Manager Aaron Boone considered removing Bednar after he put two runners on base in the ninth inning but decided to let him face Adolis García after Bednar insisted he could finish the job.
“What a great, gutsy effort,” said Boone about Bednar’s performance.
“I didn’t even see him coming,” Bednar said of Boone’s mound visit. “I was just kind of getting my mind right to face García. I told [Boone] I wanted him, and he agreed, and I just wanted to bear down and get that last one.”
Boone described their conversation: “I was going to take him out, honestly. I said, ‘I’m going to take you here,’ and he gave me a look like, ‘No, you’re not.’ I said, ‘Are you sure?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go — I got this guy,’ and we rolled with it. … That’s a dog effort, right there. I love that mentality.”
The Yankees’ bullpen had struggled earlier in the series but combined for four scoreless innings on Wednesday through Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill, Yerry de los Santos and Bednar. Starter Carlos Rodón allowed six hits and four walks over five-plus innings but limited Texas to two runs.
“It was kind of a battle. … I fell behind guys at times and just tried to minimize damage,” Rodón said. “Obviously, I’d like to go longer than that and be more economical with pitches. The walks aren’t helping. I’ve got to get ahead and get quicker outs.”
Defensive plays by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who helped turn three double plays—including an impressive flip in the second inning—supported Rodón during his outing.
Goldschmidt entered as a pinch-hitter against Rangers reliever Robert Garcia in the seventh inning after not starting against right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter. He hit his home run after falling behind in the count.
“I just kind of treat it like my first at-bat out of the game,” Goldschmidt said. “I don’t try to really overthink it or do anything different, I just try to be ready just like I would my first at-bat. Hitting leadoff I think has kind of helped, too, where you just step in the box and you’ve got to be ready to go. So that’s kind of the mindset. Fortunate to be able to get the job done today.”
Goldschmidt had been struggling before arriving in Texas but finished strong in this series with four hits—including two home runs—and one double across ten at-bats.
The win keeps New York ahead of both Texas and Cleveland for third place in the American League Wild Card standings.
