The Breakdown · Comeback Win · 2026-09-24

Yankees Erase Four-Run Deficit, George Lombard Jr. Delivers Walk-Off Homer

NYY def. TB · September 24, 2026 · Final: Yankees 6, Rays 4

New York trailed Tampa Bay 4-0 with a win probability that had sunk to 9% — as close to buried as a team gets at home in September.

The Rays built the lead across three innings. Yandy Díaz's single in the top of the third scored Taylor Walls, and a throwing error allowed Díaz to reach second, setting up Junior Caminero's single that pushed it to 2-0. Caminero added another run-scoring single in the top of the fifth, and a Liam Hicks forceout in the top of the sixth made it 4-0.

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells cracked that margin in the bottom of the sixth, sending a solo home run — his 14th — to center field to make it 4-1.

The bottom of the seventh is where the Yankees turned the game. Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. lined a double to left field, scoring first baseman Ben Rice to cut it to 4-2. Then a wild pitch allowed Lombard Jr. to score on Anthony Volpe's walk, pulling New York within one at 4-3. Yankees designated hitter Paul Goldschmidt followed with a sharp single to center, driving in catcher Austin Wells to tie it at 4-4.

The game stayed level into the eighth. Lombard Jr. led off the bottom of the inning and drove a fly ball to left field — his seventh home run of the season — with Amed Rosario scoring ahead of him. The two-run shot put New York in front 6-4.

That was the final. New York Yankees 6, Tampa Bay Rays 4.

The Comeback

Largest deficit
4 runs — in the top of the 6th
Win-probability nadir
9% (down 4 in the top of the 6th)
Lead flipped for good
bottom of the 8th
Lead changes
1
Final
NYY 6, TB 4 — won by 2

Scoring Summary

Inn.PlayScore
T3 Yandy Díaz singles on a line drive to right fielder Heliot Ramos. Taylor Walls scores. Yandy Díaz to 2nd. Throwing error by right fielder Heliot Ramos. 1-0
T3 Junior Caminero singles on a ground ball to center fielder José Caballero. Yandy Díaz scores. 2-0
T5 Junior Caminero singles on a sharp line drive to left fielder Cody Bellinger. Yandy Díaz scores. 3-0
T6 Liam Hicks grounds into a force out, first baseman Ben Rice to shortstop George Lombard Jr. Ryan Vilade scores. Yandy Díaz out at 2nd. Liam Hicks to 1st. Liam Hicks advances to 1st, on a missed catch error by pitcher Luis Gil. 4-0
B6 Austin Wells homers (14) on a fly ball to center field. 4-1
B7 George Lombard Jr. doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Chandler Simpson. Ben Rice scores. 4-2
B7 Anthony Volpe walks. George Lombard Jr. scores. Wild pitch by pitcher Brody Hopkins. 4-3
B7 Paul Goldschmidt singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jonny DeLuca. Austin Wells scores. José Caballero to 3rd. 4-4
B8 George Lombard Jr. homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Amed Rosario scores. 4-6

Box score

Final 6–4 ▸

Line score

  123456789 R H E
TB 002011000 4 9 1
NYY 00000132— 6 7 2

NYYWinning team

Batting

BatterABRHRBIBBSOAVG
Paul GoldschmidtDH 402 101 .255
Cody BellingerLF 400 000 .266
Heliot RamosRF 401 002 .242
Ben Rice1B 310 011 .262
George Lombard Jr.SS 422 300 .243
Anthony Volpe2B 300 011 .241
Austin WellsC 221 110 .187
José CaballeroCF 300 002 .233
Amed Rosario3B 411 000 .233

Pitching

PitcherIPHRERBBSONP
Cam Schlittler 3.032 12570
Michael Fulmer 1.121 11328
Tim Hill 0.220 00012
Luis Gil 2.001 04041
Bradley Hanner 2.020 00030

TBLosing team

Batting

BatterABRHRBIBBSOAVG
Yandy DíazDH 422 010 .292
Junior Caminero3B 502 200 .275
Victor Mesa Jr.RF 501 002 .248
Chandler SimpsonLF 501 000 .308
Jonny DeLucaCF 301 021 .263
Ben Williamson2B 200 010 .242
Ryan Vilade1B 310 012 .245
Taylor WallsSS 311 011 .223
Liam HicksC 500 102 .281
Richie Palacios2B 101 010 .234

Pitching

PitcherIPHRERBBSONP
Ian Seymour 5.010 00358
Jake Woodford 1.133 31228
Brody Hopkins 0.111 12018
Steven Matz 1.122 20223