Timely hitting, solid pitching lift Yankees past Padres

Field Level Media|published: Sat 5th September, 23:33 2026 Sep 5, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) hits a two-run single during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

Cody Bellinger’s two-run single capped a four-run second inning and Carlos Rodon threw five solid innings as the visiting New York Yankees knocked off the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Saturday.

Rodon (5-3) allowed two hits and one run, walking three and tying a season high with seven strikeouts. Four relievers finished off the game for New York (81-61). It stayed within 4 1/2 games of Tampa Bay in the American League East and maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the AL’s first wild card.

Padres starter Robbie Ray (11-8) was denied in his third try for his 100th career win, lasting only 2 1/3 innings and yielding five runs off five hits and four walks, striking out one. It was the left-hander’s shortest start since August 2024.

San Diego (74-68) ended the day one-half game behind Arizona for the National League’s final wild-card position. The Diamondbacks (75-68) edged the host Houston Astros 4-3 in 10 innings on Saturday night.

Ray sailed through the first inning on just eight pitches but found trouble in the second. Ben Rice, who collected three singles and two walks, singled to start the inning and moved up to second on a groundout by George Lombard Jr.

Spencer Jones laced a two-out double to the right field corner that cashed in Rice. Then Ray lost the strike zone, issuing walks to Jose Cabellero, Austin Wells and Paul Goldschmidt, with Goldschmidt earning an RBI. Bellinger then made it 4-0 with his single to right.

New York scored its final run in the third when Rice walked and Heliot Ramos singled him to third prior to Lombard’s sacrifice fly that scored Rice.

Manny Machado accounted for San Diego’s only run when he launched his 25th homer of the year to lead off the fourth. The 391-foot blast gave him at least 25 homers in 11 straight seasons (not including the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign), the longest current streak of its kind in the majors.

It was one of just three hits for the Padres.

–Field Level Media

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