Yankees Edge Tigers in Dramatic Showdown Behind Max Fried’s Dominance and Ben Rice’s Clutch Homer

On Wednesday night, the New York Yankees narrowly escaped with a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers, halting a three-game losing skid and avoiding a sweep at Comerica Park. The win came in thrilling fashion, as the Yankees leaned on a masterful pitching performance from Max Fried and a timely two-run homer from rookie Ben Rice, before surviving a furious ninth-inning rally from the Tigers.

A Duel Between Old Friends

The game’s marquee attraction was the pitching matchup between Max Fried and Jack Flaherty — former high school teammates at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles — now battling as opponents in the major leagues. The spotlight didn’t disappoint.

Fried (1-1) was dominant, throwing seven shutout innings while striking out 11 and allowing only five hits. The Yankees’ prized offseason acquisition kept the Tigers off balance all night with a mix of sharp fastballs and sweeping curves, showing the kind of ace form New York had hoped for when they signed him.

Flaherty, meanwhile, was nearly as impressive. He kept the Yankees scoreless through five innings before tiring in the sixth. His final line — 5 1/3 innings, three hits, three walks, nine strikeouts — showed plenty of grit and command. But a taxed bullpen and critical defensive lapses would be Detroit’s undoing.

Ben Rice Breaks Through

After both starters traded zeros early, it was the Yankees' rookie catcher Ben Rice who provided the offensive breakthrough. In the top of the seventh, with one on and one out, Rice turned on a pitch from Tigers reliever Tyler Holton and sent it into the right-field seats. The two-run shot gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead and energized a team that had struggled at the plate during the series.

Rice, who has quickly become a fan favorite, continues to impress with his poise and power. “He’s been locked in,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said postgame. “That was a huge swing in a tight game.”

Judge Adds Insurance — and the Yankees Would Need It

In the top of the ninth, Aaron Judge — who’s been red-hot over the past two weeks — lined a two-run single to extend the Yankees’ lead to 4-0. The rally was helped by defensive miscues: second baseman Colt Keith mishandled a routine grounder, and catcher Dillon Dingler failed to secure two foul popups, keeping Judge's at-bat alive.

It looked like smooth sailing for the Yankees heading into the bottom of the ninth — until it wasn’t.

Tigers Mount Wild Comeback Attempt

Yankees closer Devin Williams, who had been nearly automatic, suddenly lost command. He loaded the bases with two outs, then unleashed a wild pitch that allowed Detroit to score its first run. Moments later, Zach McKinstry laced a two-run single to center, narrowing the gap to 4-3 and sending the Comerica Park crowd into a frenzy.

With the tying and winning runs on base, Boone made a gutsy call to pull Williams and hand the ball to Mark Leiter Jr., who had yet to earn a save this season. Leiter rose to the occasion, getting Justyn-Henry Malloy to fly out and ending the threat.

“I knew I had to come in and get one out,” Leiter said. “It was just about staying calm and making pitches.”

What It Means

The Yankees’ win was significant for multiple reasons. It snapped a three-game losing streak and gave them a much-needed morale boost after being outplayed in the first two games of the series. It also halted Detroit’s five-game winning streak, which had vaulted them into early playoff discussions.

For Fried, the win marked his first as a Yankee and reaffirmed his status as a frontline starter. For Rice, it was another step in what’s becoming a breakout rookie campaign. And for Judge, his late-game hit was further proof that he remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the game when it counts.

Looking Ahead

• Yankees: The Bombers return home to host the Cleveland Guardians for a weekend series. With Fried getting into form and Judge heating up, the Yankees hope to build momentum heading into the heart of the schedule.

• Tigers: Detroit will look to regroup as they welcome the Minnesota Twins. Despite the loss, their recent strong play has kept them competitive in the AL Central.