Anthony Volpe produced an impressive return to the major leagues with three hits, including a grand slam during a six-run seventh inning, as the New York Yankees pulled away for a 10-3 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Thursday.
The Yankees (84-62) completed a three-game sweep and moved within three games of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays (87-59) in the American League East. New York opened a 4 1/2-game lead on the Boston Red Sox (80-67) for the AL’s top wild card.
Volpe went 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs in his first game with New York since being supplanted at shortstop by George Lombard Jr. in early August.
He had an RBI single in the second and another single in the sixth. In the seventh, Volpe sent a 1-1 sinker from Jimmy Herget into the right field seats for a 10-2 lead.
After hitting his first big-league homer since May 26, Volpe received a curtain call.
The grand slam was the second for Volpe in regular-season play. His other was May 10, 2023, against the A’s. Volpe also socked a grand slam in Game 4 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers.
Volpe had a strong showing after getting called up to play second base while Jazz Chisholm Jr. recovers from a strained right thumb.
Volpe had his third three-hit game this season after hitting 10 homers in 28 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre after being optioned.
Luis Garcia Jr. hit a two-run homer off Colorado starter Ryan Feltner (5-10) and reached 30 homers for the first time in his career as the Yankees won for the eighth time in 11 games. Rookie Spencer Jones tied a career high with three hits, including a two-run single in the seventh before Volpe went deep.
New York’s Max Fried, in his third start back from a second injured-list stint due to a bone bruise in his left elbow and still on a pitch count, allowed one run on one hit in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked two and threw 80 pitches.
John Schreiber (2-3), the second of five New York relievers, pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings and was awarded the win.
Kyle Karros homered for the Rockies (55-91) and Jake McCarthy had two hits, including an RBI triple. Ezequiel Tovar added two hits and a run as Colorado took its 10th loss in 13 games.
Feltner allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. He walked one and fanned two.