NEW YORK -- Trent Grisham has gone unrewarded for hard contact early this season, an unlucky streak the Yankees believed would eventually correct itself. His big sixth-inning hit on Thursday afternoon could be the turning point they expected.
Grisham belted a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center field, highlighting a six-run outburst as the Yankees rallied to wrap their strong homestand with a 9-2 victory over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
The Yanks’ sixth win in their last seven games -- and their 16th in 19 games -- was tinged by concern for Jasson Domínguez, who was carted off the field after colliding with the left-field wall while making an excellent first-inning play.
Domínguez robbed Brandon Nimmo of an extra-base hit with a lunging first-inning grab. The team said Domínguez was placed into concussion protocol and was scheduled to undergo a left shoulder MRI at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
J.C. Escarra, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger also stroked run-scoring hits in the sixth inning, beating up on the Texas bullpen after Grisham’s knock chased left-hander MacKenzie Gore. The Yanks were held to a run through five innings, taking advantage after two walks and a bloop single opened the door in the sixth.
Paul Blackburn drew the spot start in place of Ryan Weathers, who was scratched due to illness. Brendan Beck permitted two runs over three-plus innings, making his Major League debut as a bulk reliever after being promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier in the day.
Former Yankees farmhand Ezequiel Duran hit a third-inning homer off Beck, who walked three and struck out one.