Xander Bogaerts delivers in the eighth, Padres come back to beat Yankees, 4-3

Xander Bogaerts is no stranger to Yankee Stadium. He spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox before joining the San Diego Padres as a free agent in the offseason prior to 2023. It makes sense then, that he would deliver a game-winning base hit in the top of the eighth inning that helped the Padres get a come from behind 4-3 win over the New York Yankees.

Bogaerts delivered a two-run single after Manny Machado ripped a two-out two-run double to left field off Yankees reliever Luke Weaver. Machado got the opportunity to deliver a big hit after both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manager Mike Shildt were ejected from the game following a strikeout of Tatis Jr., which included a questionable strike call.

The eighth inning rally started with a Tyler Wade walk allowed by Yankees reliever Devin Williams. The walk followed a Martin Maldonado strikeout. Brandon Lockridge singled to put runners at first and second. Tatis Jr. struck out swinging after a called strike that appeared to be low and out of the zone for strike two.

Williams issued a second walk in the inning to Luis Arraez to load the bases. Williams was replaced by Weaver, who allowed back-to-back hits and saw the Yankees’ 3-0 lead turn into a 4-3 deficit.

New York was leading throughout the game after Trent Grisham hit a two-run home run off San Diego starter Nick Pivetta to put the Yankees up 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning. New York added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an Anthony Volpe sacrifice fly that allowed Paul Goldschmidt to score from third to make the score, 3-0.

Pivetta completed five innings, allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Yuki Matsui, Ryan Bergert and Jeremiah Estrada each pitched a scoreless inning and allowed just one hit, combined. Robert Suarez came on in the top of the ninth inning and faced the minimum three batters to earn his 14th save of the season and secure the win.

San Diego plays New York in the second game of their series, Tuesday at 4:05 p.m.