Chisholm Silences Critics with Late Home Run, Leading Yankees to Victory

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. once again proved he thrives in the spotlight of opposing crowds, silencing “overrated” chants with a decisive home run in the eighth inning that propelled the New York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Guardians on Tuesday night. “I love it. Kind of. I feel like that was the loudest chants all day we heard, so I think it was great,” Chisholm reflected on the moment.

The second baseman acknowledged that the jeers got the better of him in the fifth inning, where he struck out after overswinging at several pitches. However, he turned things around in the eighth after falling behind 0-2 against reliever Tim Herrin. Chisholm patiently worked the count full and, on the seventh pitch, connected with a slider, launching it 360 feet into the right-field stands.

This marked Chisholm's fourth career go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later and his first since playing for the Miami Marlins in 2022. “I swung at the first pitch and realized that it was going to be tough to hit the slider on the outside corner. So I was just waiting on a ball to start right at me. I got one and handled it,” he explained, adding that it felt like a relief when the pitcher missed his mark.

After sending the ball into the stands, Chisholm took his time rounding the bases, soaking in the mixed reactions from the crowd—boos from Guardians fans and cheers from Yankees supporters. “You're still in that mode of getting after it, so that's what was going through my head at the time,” he said.

This home run was also significant as it was the second consecutive one he hit using one of Aaron Judge's bats, which are slightly longer and heavier than his usual ones. Chisholm, who has struggled with a batting average of just .167 in June, has made his hits count, with three of them being home runs in the last six games. His recent performance comes after a humorous remark by Guardians announcer Tom Hamilton regarding Chisholm's appearance on “The Tonight Show,” which gained traction online.

Hamilton's quip about Chisholm batting .239 during his TV appearance resonated with fans, particularly those in New York, prompting Yankees manager Aaron Boone to express his appreciation for Chisholm's spirited response on the field. “I love them, I really do. Those I like,” Boone said, indicating his support for the player's confidence.