Spencer Jones sparks key rally against hometown team as Yankees beat Padres 5-1

Spencer Jones began the Yankees’ decisive rally against the team from his hometown, hitting a two-out double into right-field corner in the second inning. The hit scored Ben Rice and helped New York build a 4-0 lead on its way to a 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Jones, a rookie who attended La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, doubled off left-hander Robbie Ray after Rice opened the inning with a single. George Lombard Jr. moved Rice forward with a grounder. Ray then walked three consecutive batters, forcing in another run, before Cody Bellinger singled home two more. Lombard added a sacrifice fly in the third inning to bring Rice home again.

Carlos Rodón earned his first win in five starts, limiting the Padres to one run and two hits over five innings. He struck out seven and walked three. His only mistake came when Manny Machado opened the fourth inning with a solo home run, his 25th of the season.

Ray took the loss after allowing five runs, five hits and four walks in 2⅓ innings. It was his shortest outing since he recorded only two outs against Atlanta while with San Francisco on August 14, 2024.

The Yankees improved to 81-61 and moved within one victory of securing their 34th straight winning season. They have won five of their last seven games and 13 of 19, and they control the American League’s first wild-card position. The Padres have dropped six of eight and began the day just a half-game ahead of Arizona for the National League’s third wild card. Jones had also driven in a run in the 10th inning the previous night, before San Diego’s Luis Campusano won that game with a two-run homer.