Brett Gardner delivered a massive moment for the Yankees with a grand slam that turned the game around. With one out and the bases loaded, Gardner faced reliever Ryan Brasier, who came in throwing heat. After a couple of setup pitches, Brasier made a huge mistake—he grooved a 97-mph fastball right down the middle. Gardner didn’t miss. The ball barely cleared the wall, only a home run in one or two parks, but it counted. Yankees took the lead, and Yankee Stadium erupted.
The reaction in the dugout was pure chaos. Gardner’s celebration included high fives, helmet slaps, and Aaron Judge lifting him in the air. Judge, standing at 6’7″, made Gardner hop for the hug, which turned into a running joke. Clint Frazier hesitated on a high five and later ran back just to make sure he got it. The chemistry in the dugout was clear. Glaber Torres smiled wide, Gary Sánchez gave out hugs, even the typically reserved Masahiro Tanaka and CC Sabathia broke into grins. The home run wasn’t just a momentum swing, it pulled the team closer.
That fan reaction summed it up. One kid fished the ball out of the crowd and held it up like a trophy. Another fan ignored the ball completely and just lost his mind yelling. That vibe carried over to the players. The Yankees needed a big moment, and Gardner gave it to them. Everyone felt it.