Rookie Grand Slam
Rookie George Lombard Jr. Powers Yankees Past Rockies With First Grand Slam
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Key Points
1
Lombard’s grand slam came on an 86.6 mph slider from Tomoyuki Sugano and traveled a Statcast-projected 353 feet into the right-field seats, giving New York a 5-0 lead.
2
The homer was the Yankees’ first grand slam since Ben Rice cleared the bases against Baltimore on Sept. 21 of the previous season, and their first at Yankee Stadium since Cody Bellinger’s slam against the Mets on May 18, 2025.
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Will Warren improved to 10-5 and won consecutive starts for the first time since May 12-19; he allowed one run and four hits, walked one and struck out eight over six innings.
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Before Lombard’s homer, the Yankees were one of only two major-league teams without a grand slam in 2026; Milwaukee remained the only team still waiting for its first.
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A Yankees broadcast analyst praised Lombard’s approach, noting that he went to right field in both of his first two at-bats and suggesting he was beginning to regain his rhythm: “It looks like he's starting to find his groove a little bit again.”
George Lombard Jr. hit the Yankees' first grand slam of 2026, a massive opposite-field shot in the third inning that sparked New York to a 6-1 victory over Colorado and clinched the series. The 21-year-old rookie's 353-foot blast off an 86.6 mph slider from Tomoyuki Sugano gave the Yankees a 5-0 lead and marked only the third home run of his young career Yahoo Sports. Lombard's power display came as a sign of emerging confidence after a recent slump, as he also used an opposite-field approach in his first two at-bats of the game.
Lombard Joins Yankees' Grand Slam History
Lombard became the second-youngest Yankee to hit a grand slam, trailing only Mickey Mantle on the franchise's all-time list. His homer ended an unusual drought: the Yankees had been one of just two major-league teams without a grand slam all season MLB.com. Their previous grand slam came nearly a year earlier when Ben Rice hit one against Baltimore on September 21 of the previous season.
Cody Bellinger contributed a solo home run in the rout, his second consecutive game with a blast. The outfield depth helped offset concerns about overreliance on Aaron Judge, who returned from the injured list with two singles in four at-bats after missing time with a broken rib.
Warren Dominates on the Mound in Consecutive Win
Pitcher Will Warren earned the victory by allowing just one run on four hits over six innings, striking out eight batters NBC Sports. Warren improved to 10-5 overall and won consecutive starts for the first time since May 12-19. He walked one batter while accumulating 12 swings-and-misses, his most in a single outing.
Lombard's Opposite-Field Approach Signals Potential Turnaround
Despite batting just .240 with a .674 OPS overall, Lombard showed signs of breaking free from his recent struggles. A Yankees broadcast analyst noted his two consecutive opposite-field at-bats, saying "It looks like he's starting to find his groove a little bit again." The adjustment suggests Lombard is developing plate discipline and adjusting to major-league pitching Yahoo Sports.
The offensive production arrived with the Yankees facing 17 games remaining in the regular season. Lombard's emergence as a power contributor alongside established stars like Judge and Bellinger offered a glimpse of roster depth that could carry New York deeper into the postseason.
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