NEW YORK – As David Bednar nears his one-year anniversary as the Yankees’ closer, he has built a reputation as a rubber-armed bulldog, never flinching from a heavy workload or difficult spot. But life on the edge comes with consequences, and one mistake can change everything.
One out from sealing a victory, a hanging curveball certainly qualifies.
Tyrone Taylor’s game-tying three-run homer handed Bednar his second blown save, and Carson Benge later knocked in the winning run as the Yankees fell to the Mets, 7-6, in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at Citi Field.
“I’ve had a lot of success with that pitch. I trust my stuff,” Bednar said. “But overall, it’s unacceptable, especially in that spot. It’s just very frustrating.”
Bednar called the loss “a tough one to swallow.” It concluded what manager Aaron Boone described as “a terrible road trip” for the Yankees, who saw their bullpen stumble at times through a 2-7 showing in Milwaukee, Baltimore and now Queens.
The Yankees have not won a Subway Series in Flushing since 2018.
“There were a couple of close games, but it’s about finishing the job,” captain Aaron Judge said. “There were a couple of games here where we’ve got to close it out. The boys are playing hard, though. The guys are playing tough and making the plays they need to, but we’re just coming up a little bit short.”
In the 10th, the Yankees positioned a five-man infield behind Tim Hill with one out. Benge chopped a grounder that Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann both lunged for, colliding behind the mound as Marcus Semien slid home with the deciding run.
“It’s kind of no-man’s land there,” Volpe said. “We’re just both trying to make a play and reacting. That’s do or die. That’s the game.”
Bednar served up a pair of costly homers on this trip, including Brice Turang’s game-winning shot on May 10 at Milwaukee. He’d permitted just two homers across his first 38 Yankees appearances after being acquired last July 31.
“I was trying to be a little more aggressive with that [pitch to Taylor],” Bednar said. “It just didn’t end up where I wanted it to be.”
The late flip spoiled a standout performance from Volpe, who contributed two walks, two hits and three RBIs while filling in for José Caballero, who is expected to return soon from a fractured right middle finger.
Volpe worked seven walks in 13 plate appearances across the series.
“That’s the guy we know,” Judge said. “That’s why he’s been our shortstop for the past couple of seasons. I was definitely encouraged about what I saw today.”
Ben Rice cracked his 15th home run in the loss. Rice and Judge (16) are just the second pair of Yankees to hit 15 homers or more in the team’s first 47 games of a season; Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle (1956) and Mantle and Roger Maris (1961) are the others.
Volpe notched his first hit of the season with a second-inning double, then contributed a key knock to the Yankees’ four-run sixth. Two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a hit batter set up Volpe’s hit off Sean Manaea, chasing home Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
“I got some good pitches to hit and put some good swings on them,” Volpe said. “Just trying to do my job and contribute in any way I can.”
Amed Rosario lifted a sacrifice fly, and another run scored when Bo Bichette dropped a Trent Grisham popup for an error. Luis Torrens’ two-run pinch-hit double off Jake Bird trimmed the Yankees’ lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Elmer Rodríguez navigated 4 1/3 innings in his third Major League start, limiting the Mets to Semien’s fourth-inning RBI double.
The Yankees’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Rodríguez was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday when left-hander Max Fried landed on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow bone bruise.
“Overall, I thought he did his job and gave us a real opportunity to win a game,” Boone said.
Boone said Rodríguez is expected to remain in the rotation for one more turn before Gerrit Cole’s return.
However, Boone said the team would discuss adding a fresh bullpen arm before opening a four-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday – a rematch against the club that ended the Yankees’ 2025 season.
“Can’t wait to see them again,” Judge said. “It’s going to be a good matchup, but I think the boys are ready.”