NEW YORK – A rare stolen base by Giancarlo Stanton led to a manufactured run, one of the more notable moments Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
But this bitter, windy Bronx night provided another glimpse at the Yankees’ overall approach.
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They are a lot to handle, with a lineup that produces a lot of heavy at-bats. And on a night when their starter finally let them down, and some key relievers were shaky, well…
“Find a way,’’ said closer David Bednar, whose latest thrill-ride appearance saved a 9-7 win against the Miami Marlins.
In improving their season-opening record to 7-1, the Yankees’ path back from a 4-0 deficit was made that much harder as the Marlins (5-3) out-hit them, 15-6.
“It’s a scoring competition, not a hit competition,’’ said manager Aaron Boone, after his club drew 10 walks (they had 11 walks Friday) and used a Cody Bellinger two-run homer off starter Max Meyer to cut the lead in half.
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Giancarlo Stanton: “I’ll take what they give me”
Apr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) steals second base against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Stanton used his high IQ more than his legs to help steal a run in the seventh, eventually scoring on a passed ball.
“I’m going to take what they give me, put us in a good opportunity,’’ said Stanton, who hadn’t swiped a base in a regular season game since 2020.
“He was aware, trusted his secondary (lead)’’ noting the position of the first baseman, said Boone. “In those situations, you actually slow it down a little too.
“I thought he executed it perfectly.’’
By surprising the Marlins, Stanton “fired up’’ the Yankees, said Bellinger. “A huge extra run there.’’
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In the eighth, it was Stanton’s patient at-bat that produced the go-ahead, two-run single after Camilo Doval had blown a two-run lead.
Stanton fouled off two Michael Petersen fastballs before grounding a changeup toward the middle and just through for a go-ahead, two-run single.
“We’ve got 27 outs,’’ said Stanton. “If there’s outs on the board, we’ve got a chance.’’
Ryan Weathers knocked out in the fourth
Apr 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
In short order, these starts by Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil will become auditions to stay in the rotation.
Gil is due to re-enter the rotation Friday at Tampa Bay, the first time the Yanks will need a fifth starter. Carlos Rodon (elbow rehab, tight hamstring) could still return by May 1, and Gerrit Cole isn’t far behind.
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Barring an injury, someone is going to the bullpen or the minors to make room, and Weathers’ first home start saw him run his pitch count to 88 in just 3.2 innings.
“Frustrating…it’s on me,’’ said Weathers, vowing to “pitch to contact’’ more often, rather than trying to put hitters away on strikeouts – a scenario that emerged Saturday.
“Thought he managed contact really well,” said Boone, acknowledging that three walks and deep counts hurt Weathers. “But overall, I thought he threw the ball OK.”
Camilo Doval’s struggles, Jazz Chisholm’s careless mistake
Doval’s command issues crept in again, yielding two runs and failing to make it through the eighth, blowing a 6-4 lead.
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With a three-run edge in the ninth, Bednar wasn’t helped by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who played a routine grounder into a leadoff single due to his inattention and Otto Lopez’s hustle.
“Just kind of laid back on it. Credit to Lopez, who was getting down the line in a hurry. Probably figured he had plenty of time,’’ said Boone. “Obviously, we’ve got to make that (play).’’
Asked if he’d discuss it with Chisholm, Boone said: “We’ll see.’’
Three days removed from a 40-pitch, four-out save at Seattle, Bednar yielded a run and loaded the bases before striking out Griffin Conine to end it.
“It’s all about finding a way,’’ he said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees “find a way” in Saturday’s comeback victory against Marlins