The Yankees trailed by one in the ninth with their home win streak and the series on the line. Liam Hendriks came back out for a second inning after giving up runs earlier. He stayed with the fastball, and Brett Gardner jumped on one at 98 mph, tying the game with a solo shot into the seats. The stadium erupted as the bullpen went wild. Cameron Maybin dished out hugs, Tommy Kahnle ran victory laps by himself, and CC Sabathia beamed while Gary Sanchez gave Gardner’s bald head a celebratory rub.
Next up, pinch-hitter Mike Ford stepped in and saw the same fastball. He crushed it for a walk-off homer. Ford knew it off the bat. Chapman spiked his glove in excitement while Kahnle leaped into the bullpen glass in celebration. The team rushed the field. DJ LeMahieu busted out a big fist pump. Gardner and Didi Gregorius had Gatorade duty. Gardner landed a perfect short-range pour, while Didi nailed the long shot.
CC wasn’t about to get hit again. He warned others and ducked out just in time. It was a clean, chaotic win with the whole dugout locked in. Aaron Judge, with his massive hands, capped it off by smothering heads in celebration. The Yankees kept the streak alive with a walk-off blast and their usual postgame chaos.