Volpe hits grand slam in return to majors as Yankees sweep Rockies 10-3 to pull closer in AL East

NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs during his rousing return to the majors as the New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies 10-3 on Thursday night to tighten the AL East race.

Luis García Jr. launched an early two-run homer and rookie Spencer Jones had three hits for the Yankees, including a two-run single. New York completed a three-game sweep to move within three games of Tampa Bay atop the division and 4 1/2 ahead of Boston for the first American League wild card with 16 to play.

It’s the closest the Yankees have been to first place since they were three back after games on Aug. 23. New York (84-62) is a season-best 22 games over .500 and is closing in on clinching a ninth playoff berth in 10 years.

Max Fried struck out seven in his third start since coming off the injured list but needed 80 pitches to get through 3 1/3 innings. Five relievers followed, and John Schreiber (2-3) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his first win with the Yankees.

New York slugger Aaron Judge was rested as planned after starting back-to-back games in his return from the 60-day injured list. Cody Bellinger doubled twice and lofted a sacrifice fly for the Yankees, who have won 16 of 23 heading into the second Subway Series of the season against the crosstown-rival New York Mets this weekend in the Bronx.

Kyle Karros hit a 431-foot homer and Jake McCarthy had an RBI triple for the major league-worst Rockies (55-91), who have lost four straight and 10 of 13. Colorado has dropped a season-worst seven in a row on the road.

García connected in the first off Ryan Feltner (5-10), who allowed four runs in five innings.

Recalled from the minors earlier in the day, Volpe had an RBI single in the second and lined his second big league homer this season over the short porch in right field to make it 10-2 in the seventh.

After circling the bases, Volpe took a curtain call for Yankee Stadium fans who chanted his name several times throughout the night. He finished with three hits and a stolen base while playing a new position, second base, after Jazz Chisholm Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list.

It was Volpe’s second career grand slam — plus one in the 2024 World Series.

After the game, New York optioned outfielder Jasson Domínguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

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