NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe hit a two-run double in his first appearance at shortstop since Aug. 1 and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 Friday night for a doubleheader split.
Ryan McMahon hit a run-scoring single in the fifth and rookie Spencer Jones had an RBI single in New York’s three-run sixth.
Volpe gave the Yankees (93-68) a 4-0 lead with a fly ball in a three-run sixth that carried over right fielder Rece Hinds and bounced into the stands. He is hitting .265 (11 for 49) with nine RBIs in 14 games since he was recalled from the minors on Sept. 10, raising his season average to .245.
Volpe made his big league debut at third base during New York’s 10-2 loss in the opener. The only ball hit toward Volpe was a drive off the third-base bag by Christian Encarnacion-Strand.
In the nightcap, Volpe caught a popup by Dylan Beavers in the fourth and dropped a throw from catcher Austin Wells on a stolen base by Christian Franklin in the sixth.
Heliot Ramos and Luis García Jr. added RBI singles in the seventh. Garcia was in a 3-for-38 slide before his hit gave the Yankees a 6-1 lead.
Will Warren (11-6) struck out seven and allowed three hits in 3 2/3 innings after Ryan Yarbrough pitched 2 1/3 innings. Warren is likely to be on New York’s postseason roster as a reliever.
Brent Headrick, pitching in his 81st game, loaded the bases in the seventh, and was aided by left fielder Cody Bellinger’s jumping catch on Leody Taveras’ sacrifice fly. Headrick finished the seventh by striking out Hinds.
Alexander Cornielle allowed a homer to Dylan Beavers on his first big league pitch in the ninth and an RBI double by Taveras. He finished his debut in the rain by striking out Christian Franklin with a sweeper.
Baltimore (79-82) clinched its second straight losing season.
After homering twice in the opener to increase his AL-leading total to 43, Pete Alonso went 1 for 3 with a pair of walks.
Baltimore starter Brandon Young (9-6) allowed one run and two hits in five innings.
Baltimore RHP Shane Baz (6-15, 4.11) pitches Sunday weather permitting.
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Home plate umpire Nic Lentz, left, calls time after the wind blew up dust during an at-bat of New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, during the seventh inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe tosses his bat after hitting an RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe follows through on an RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe made his first career big league appearance at third base for the New York Yankees in the opener of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a drive off the third-base bag and over Volpe in the ninth inning of New York's 10-2 loss. That was the only ball hit toward Volpe.
“Not a lot of action over there but there's something to be said for being in there, thinking through the situations and moving and setting up how you're supposed to." manager Aaron Boone said.
“Obviously you get prepared and that’s part of being a new fielder,” Volpe said. “No matter where you play, you got to anticipate and know what you got to do."
Volpe started at shortstop for the first time since Aug. 1 in the second game and could appear at third again if the Yankees play on Sunday, when rain is forecast. In New York's 6-3 victory, he caught a popup by Dylan Beavers in the fourth and dropped a throw from catcher Austin Wells on a stolen base by Christian Franklin in the sixth.
“We'll see,” Boone said. “He's worked a lot over there. He played a little bit down there in Triple-A so just because he didn't get a ball in the game, I just wanted him moving around so we have some options."
Volpe had started 11 games at second base since his recall from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Sept. 10.
“It's all hands on deck,” Volpe said about his versitility. “We have a really complete roster and I think just a lot of winning players. So I think that's just what I try to be and you never know obviously what's going to happen.”
During his last stint in Triple-A after rookie George Lombard Jr. replaced him as the Yankees shortstop, Volpe started three games at third. Volpe did not commit an error in three chances while batting 284 with 10 homers and 21 RBIs in 28 games.
Volpe was New York’s opening day shortstop for the 2023-25 seasons, then began this season on the injured list while recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. After his 20-day minor league rehab assignment ended May 3, Volpe was optioned to Triple-A and returned to the Yankees 10 days later when José Caballero fractured his right middle finger.
Volpe. 25, hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs in a memorable return to the big leagues Sept. 10. He is hitting .265 (11 for 49) with nine RBIs in 14 games since he was recalled from the minors, raising his season average to .245
Attempting to return from injuries to calf muscles in both legs, Giancarlo Stanton took on-field batting practice against a minor league pitching and Ryan Weathers, who hopes to come off the injured list for the postseason.
Stanton saw 20 pitches in four at-bats along with Trent Grisham, sidelined since straining his right hamstring Sept. 4. Stanton struck out three times against a minor league pitcher and struck out against Weathers, who is recovering from a strained right forearm.
Stanton hit on the field at Yankee Stadium for the second straight day. He took swings for about 40 minutes against a high-velocity pitching machine on Thursday.
Stanton hasn’t played since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs after starting the season with a .256 batting average, three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. If the right-handed-hitting Stanton is on New York’s roster for the best-of-three World Card Series that starts Tuesday, he likely would be a possible pinch hitter.
“A lot of that comes down to how many position players, we go with,” Boone said. “So those will kind of be kind those conversations that happen in earnest the next couple of days. We’ll talk to G, see where he’s at mentally, physically and all that and then we’ll do the best we can to make the right decision.”
Weathers may be an option for the postseason bullpen. He was 5-8 with a 3.60 ERA in 25 starts before feeling pain forearm pain on Aug. 22 against Toronto.
“I think postseason, for sure," Boone said. “Whether it’s the first round or not, that will be the conversations we have in the next day or two.”
Boone said the Yankees may not decide on their 26-man Wild Card Series roster until Monday night. The roster must be submitted to Major League Baseball by 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Right-hander Fernando Cruz was transferred to the 60-day injured list and is done for the season
Cruz hasn’t pitched in a game since Aug. 25 because of right elbow discomfort caused by a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Cruz opted against Tommy John surgery on his elbow and said Tuesday, he was in a good position to return in the next couple of weeks.
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Baltimore Orioles' Leody Taveras (30) is safe at second base after beating the throw by New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe during the third inning in the second baseball game of a double header, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe lines up for play during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Yankees Anthony Volpe scores during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)
