NEW YORK – This has been a blockbuster series in the Bronx, where Aaron Judge and Mike Trout have traded MVP-caliber blows, drawing awe from their teammates and even each other.
And in the biggest moments, José Caballero has found his way into the spotlight.
Two days after scoring the deciding run in an unforgettable comeback, Caballero delivered another walk-off, lacing a two-run double off Jordan Romano as the Yankees capitalized on a defensive miscue to defeat the Angels, 5-4, on Wednesday evening at Yankee Stadium.
“Those are the at-bats that I want,” Caballero said. “I’m living for those at-bats. I want those at-bats every time I step in the box. I like the pressure. I like the big moments.”
As manager Aaron Boone said, “It’s not easy for us right now,” and Wednesday was no exception.
The Yankees built an early lead behind Aaron Judge’s 375th career homer, only to see it erased by Trout’s fourth homer of the series, a go-ahead blast in the fifth. Their fortunes shifted with one out in the ninth against Romano, who blew the save in Monday’s 11-10 Yanks victory.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. lifted a pop-up to the left side of the infield. Third baseman Oswald Peraza and shortstop Zach Neto converged but couldn’t hear each other, watching the ball drop for a hit. Neto accepted responsibility, saying, “The shortstop has priority over everybody. I should’ve caught the ball.”
“It’s bad whenever you give us a chance. It’s a dangerous thing,” Caballero said.
That was the opening the Yanks needed. Austin Wells worked a six-pitch walk, and with a double-steal in motion, Caballero ripped Romano’s fifth pitch into the outfield. Chisholm scored the tying run easily, and Wells was waved home, sliding in ahead of a tag from catcher Logan O’Hoppe.
The Angels challenged, briefly delaying the celebration, but the call stood – clearing the way for a frenzy that included Judge dousing Caballero with the contents of an ice cooler. It was the second walk-off hit of Caballero’s career, and both have come with the Yankees (also Sept. 23, 2025, vs. the White Sox).
“He can do whatever’s necessary to get the job done,” Wells said. “He’s got all the tools to put the ball in play. He can put it out of the yard, take his walks, he’s got the speed. You don’t really know what you’re going to get out of him.”
It’s interesting that the rally was sparked by a defensive miscue, because the Yanks had been on the wrong end all night. One example came earlier in the ninth, when Bryce Teodosio’s leaping catch took away an extra-base hit from Giancarlo Stanton.
“It’s a grind for us right now,” Boone said, “but I felt like there were a lot of tough, winning things that happened tonight for us.”
Judge got the offense rolling with his seventh homer of the season, a first-inning blast off Jack Kochanowicz – his third homer of the series. Trent Grisham added a two-run single in the second, but Luis Gil couldn’t hold the cushion.
Making his second start of the year, the right-hander served up solo homers to Adam Frazier and O’Hoppe. He grooved a fifth-inning fastball to Trout, who crushed a Statcast-projected 383-foot drive over Judge into the right-center-field seats.
It was the fourth homer of the series for Trout, who became the first visiting player since Miguel Cabrera (2013) to homer in three consecutive games at the current Yankee Stadium.
“You’re watching two first-ballot Hall of Famers put on a show this week,” Boone said. “It’s been impressive. I’m hoping we can slow the other show a little bit.”
Yankees pitchers have permitted eight homers in the past two games after surrendering just five over their first 16. Through two starts, Gil has yet to miss bats at the same rate he did in 2024, when he was the American League Rookie of the Year.
“We’ve got to keep working; keep improving, keep getting better,” Gil said through interpreter Marlon Abreu.
But the bullpen held it with four scoreless frames. To Boone’s point, it might not be coming easily – but it is coming. Better late than never.
“If we have outs,” Caballero said, “there’s a chance for us to win. And we have proved that.”