Judge's Blast Overshadowed by Scott's Scare: Yankees Power Surge Buries Cardinals
Published on: August 17, 2025
The crack of the bat echoed through Busch Stadium, a familiar sound that sent shivers down the spines of opposing pitchers and fans alike. Aaron Judge, the towering Yankee slugger, had launched another one. Number 39 on the year, a towering shot that kissed the top of the wall before settling into the right-field seats, adding another notch to his impressive tally and marking a home run against every MLB team. A milestone, yes, but one that was quickly overshadowed by a grimace and a limp in center field.
Victor Scott II, the Cardinals’ rookie center fielder, had given chase, his youthful exuberance propelling him towards the wall. He launched himself, glove outstretched, attempting a robbery that would surely be replayed for weeks. But the baseball gods, it seemed, had other plans. Scott’s foot jammed awkwardly against the wall's base as he landed, a sickening thud audible even over the roar of the crowd. He crumpled to the ground, the hopeful gasp of the home crowd replaced by a collective groan.
The Judge bomb, a solo shot in the third inning, had staked the Yankees to an early lead, but the air in Busch Stadium thickened with concern. This wasn't just another home run; it was a potential turning point in a season already fraught with frustration for the Redbirds. Scott, their everyday center fielder, the spark plug who had patrolled the outfield grass in 116 games, was down. He limped off the field, assisted by the training staff, leaving a gaping hole in the Cardinals’ defense and a knot in the stomachs of Cardinal Nation. The diagnosis, a left ankle sprain, confirmed the worst fears. The severity, however, remained a looming question mark, a cloud hanging over a team desperately searching for a silver lining.
Meanwhile, the Yankees, seemingly oblivious to the unfolding drama, continued their offensive onslaught. It was as if they’d been unleashed, a pack of pinstriped predators sensing vulnerability. Ben Rice, the rookie first baseman, emerged as the unexpected hero. He channeled his inner Ruth, not with towering home runs, but with timely, clutch hits that drove in runs by the bushel. A three-run blast off Sonny Gray in the fourth inning, followed by a bases-clearing double against Kyle Leahy in the sixth, and capped off with an RBI single in the seventh. Seven RBIs in total, matching his career high set the previous summer during a three-homer game against Boston. A performance that screamed, "Remember my name."
"Rice gave us big swings all night," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said post-game, a satisfied grin etched across his face. "He kept coming through in those spots and really carried us offensively." Carried them, indeed. Rice's outburst overshadowed even Judge's milestone homer and his RBI double. The Bronx Bombers were clicking on all cylinders, a relentless offensive machine churning out runs. Trent Grisham, another cog in the well-oiled Yankee machine, chipped in with four hits and scored four runs, while newly acquired Ryan McMahon added his first Yankees home run, a celebratory blast that punctuated the rout.
The Cardinals, despite the setback with Scott and the offensive barrage from the Yankees, refused to roll over. They clawed their way back into the game, showing flashes of resilience that hinted at the potential that had eluded them for much of the season. Nolan Gorman launched a two-run homer in the sixth, briefly silencing the Yankee dugout, while Masyn Winn, Scott's replacement in center, added a three-run shot of his own, a small consolation prize on a night filled with disappointment. They fought, they scrapped, they chipped away at the lead, but the hole dug by the Yankees' relentless offense proved too deep to climb out of.
The Yankees, smelling blood in the water, weren't about to let victory slip away. Max Fried, the Yankees’ ace, had a shaky start, surrendering seven runs on eight hits in just over five innings, including multiple home runs for the third time this season. He did, however, manage to notch his 1,000th career strikeout, a personal milestone achieved amidst the offensive fireworks. But it was the Yankee bats, not Fried’s arm, that dictated the narrative of the game. Fifteen hits in total, a testament to their offensive firepower.
Sonny Gray, taking the mound for the Cardinals, fared no better. He coughed up six runs on nine hits in five innings, another victim of the Yankees’ offensive juggernaut. The Cardinals bullpen, tasked with stemming the tide, couldn’t contain the Yankee bats either. The game, which had started with so much promise for the home team, was slipping away.
Despite the late surge from the Cardinals, David Bednar, the Yankees’ closer, slammed the door shut in the ninth, retiring Iván Herrera with two men aboard to secure his 20th save of the season. The final score: 12-8, a decisive victory for the Yankees, who secured the series win and positioned themselves for a sweep on Sunday.
As the dust settled and the echoes of the final out faded, the focus shifted from the Yankees' offensive explosion to the uncertain status of Victor Scott II. His injury, a cruel twist of fate on a night meant to celebrate Judge's milestone, cast a pall over the game. The 23-year-old rookie had become a fixture in the Cardinals’ lineup, a symbol of hope for a brighter future. Now, his absence threatened to further derail a season already teetering on the brink.
The Yankees, with their sights set on a sweep, will send Will Warren (7-5, 4.34 ERA) to the mound in Sunday’s finale against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (6-9, 4.97). But for the Cardinals, the biggest question isn’t about Sunday’s game, but about the health of their young center fielder. The hope in St. Louis is that Scott's injury is just a minor setback, a brief interruption in a promising career. The fear, however, is that it's something more serious, another blow to a team already reeling from a season of disappointments.
Victor Scott II, the Cardinals’ rookie center fielder, had given chase, his youthful exuberance propelling him towards the wall. He launched himself, glove outstretched, attempting a robbery that would surely be replayed for weeks. But the baseball gods, it seemed, had other plans. Scott’s foot jammed awkwardly against the wall's base as he landed, a sickening thud audible even over the roar of the crowd. He crumpled to the ground, the hopeful gasp of the home crowd replaced by a collective groan.
The Judge bomb, a solo shot in the third inning, had staked the Yankees to an early lead, but the air in Busch Stadium thickened with concern. This wasn't just another home run; it was a potential turning point in a season already fraught with frustration for the Redbirds. Scott, their everyday center fielder, the spark plug who had patrolled the outfield grass in 116 games, was down. He limped off the field, assisted by the training staff, leaving a gaping hole in the Cardinals’ defense and a knot in the stomachs of Cardinal Nation. The diagnosis, a left ankle sprain, confirmed the worst fears. The severity, however, remained a looming question mark, a cloud hanging over a team desperately searching for a silver lining.
Meanwhile, the Yankees, seemingly oblivious to the unfolding drama, continued their offensive onslaught. It was as if they’d been unleashed, a pack of pinstriped predators sensing vulnerability. Ben Rice, the rookie first baseman, emerged as the unexpected hero. He channeled his inner Ruth, not with towering home runs, but with timely, clutch hits that drove in runs by the bushel. A three-run blast off Sonny Gray in the fourth inning, followed by a bases-clearing double against Kyle Leahy in the sixth, and capped off with an RBI single in the seventh. Seven RBIs in total, matching his career high set the previous summer during a three-homer game against Boston. A performance that screamed, "Remember my name."
"Rice gave us big swings all night," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said post-game, a satisfied grin etched across his face. "He kept coming through in those spots and really carried us offensively." Carried them, indeed. Rice's outburst overshadowed even Judge's milestone homer and his RBI double. The Bronx Bombers were clicking on all cylinders, a relentless offensive machine churning out runs. Trent Grisham, another cog in the well-oiled Yankee machine, chipped in with four hits and scored four runs, while newly acquired Ryan McMahon added his first Yankees home run, a celebratory blast that punctuated the rout.
The Cardinals, despite the setback with Scott and the offensive barrage from the Yankees, refused to roll over. They clawed their way back into the game, showing flashes of resilience that hinted at the potential that had eluded them for much of the season. Nolan Gorman launched a two-run homer in the sixth, briefly silencing the Yankee dugout, while Masyn Winn, Scott's replacement in center, added a three-run shot of his own, a small consolation prize on a night filled with disappointment. They fought, they scrapped, they chipped away at the lead, but the hole dug by the Yankees' relentless offense proved too deep to climb out of.
The Yankees, smelling blood in the water, weren't about to let victory slip away. Max Fried, the Yankees’ ace, had a shaky start, surrendering seven runs on eight hits in just over five innings, including multiple home runs for the third time this season. He did, however, manage to notch his 1,000th career strikeout, a personal milestone achieved amidst the offensive fireworks. But it was the Yankee bats, not Fried’s arm, that dictated the narrative of the game. Fifteen hits in total, a testament to their offensive firepower.
Sonny Gray, taking the mound for the Cardinals, fared no better. He coughed up six runs on nine hits in five innings, another victim of the Yankees’ offensive juggernaut. The Cardinals bullpen, tasked with stemming the tide, couldn’t contain the Yankee bats either. The game, which had started with so much promise for the home team, was slipping away.
Despite the late surge from the Cardinals, David Bednar, the Yankees’ closer, slammed the door shut in the ninth, retiring Iván Herrera with two men aboard to secure his 20th save of the season. The final score: 12-8, a decisive victory for the Yankees, who secured the series win and positioned themselves for a sweep on Sunday.
As the dust settled and the echoes of the final out faded, the focus shifted from the Yankees' offensive explosion to the uncertain status of Victor Scott II. His injury, a cruel twist of fate on a night meant to celebrate Judge's milestone, cast a pall over the game. The 23-year-old rookie had become a fixture in the Cardinals’ lineup, a symbol of hope for a brighter future. Now, his absence threatened to further derail a season already teetering on the brink.
The Yankees, with their sights set on a sweep, will send Will Warren (7-5, 4.34 ERA) to the mound in Sunday’s finale against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (6-9, 4.97). But for the Cardinals, the biggest question isn’t about Sunday’s game, but about the health of their young center fielder. The hope in St. Louis is that Scott's injury is just a minor setback, a brief interruption in a promising career. The fear, however, is that it's something more serious, another blow to a team already reeling from a season of disappointments.
Back to news