Volpe Goes Boom: Grand Slam in Return Sparks Yankees' AL East Surge

NEW YORK — Anthony Volpe was supposed to just be filling in. Instead, he flipped the Bronx on its head and gave the Yankees exactly the jolt they needed in a 10-3 thrashing of the Rockies Thursday night.

Recalled from the minors earlier in the day, Volpe cranked a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs, turning his return into a one-man highlight reel. He finished 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a curtain call that had Yankee Stadium chanting his name like it was October already.

AL East Race: Officially Heated

The sweep was huge for New York. The Yankees (84-62) are now just three games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and sit 4 1/2 ahead of Boston for the top wild-card spot. That's their closest look at first place since Aug. 23, and they're riding a season-best 22 games over .500. With 16 left, the vibes are real.

Before the game, the team made a tough call: Aaron Judge got his scheduled rest after back-to-back starts in his return from the 60-day IL. No problem. Luis García Jr. launched a two-run bomb in the first off Ryan Feltner, and rookie Spencer Jones added three hits, including a two-run single. Cody Bellinger doubled twice and threw in a sac fly for good measure.

Pitching by Committee

Max Fried wasn't exactly efficient — 80 pitches to get 3 1/3 innings — but he still racked up seven strikeouts in his third start since coming off the IL. The bullpen took it from there, with John Schreiber spinning 1 1/3 scoreless frames to grab his first win in pinstripes.

On the other side, it's more misery for the Rockies. Kyle Karros muscled a 431-foot homer and Jake McCarthy tripled in a run, but Colorado's rebuilding season just keeps spiraling. They've lost four straight, 10 of 13, and dropped a season-worst seven straight on the road.

The Volpe Show

Volpe's homer — his second in the bigs this season — landed over the short porch in right to make it 10-2. And get this: he did it while playing second base, a new spot after Jazz Chisholm Jr. landed on the 10-day IL.

It was the second regular-season grand slam of his career, and yes, he also had one in the 2024 World Series. Guy just saves his best for the biggest moments.

What's Next

The Yankees now turn the page to the Subway Series against the Mets this weekend in the Bronx. Carlos Rodón gets the ball Friday night. Buckle up.