Carlos Rodón spent most of Monday night on cruise control.
Devin Williams then took the wheel and caused a five-car pileup.
Williams and Luke Weaver combined to turn a three-run lead into a one-run deficit in a brutal eighth inning as the Yankees collapsed in a 4-3 loss to the Padres at a soaking wet Stadium.
Coming off three straight scoreless outings since he was removed from the closer role, Williams reverted to his early-season form by giving up three runs on two walks and a hit while recording just two outs. He was pulled with the bases loaded before Weaver gave up back-to-back hits that drove in four runs to decide the game.
But Williams indicated this was different from his previous struggles, that he still feels like he has turned a corner and that Monday was an exception caused by the poor conditions on the mound in a game that was played through varying degrees of rain.
“It was the landing spot, to be honest with you,” Williams said. “I couldn’t figure it out with the release point on my fastball. It was getting away from me.
Luke Weaver (30) reacts after walking San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano (12) during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s one of those nights where you’re not only battling the hitter. I was battling the mound. But we’re all given the same set of circumstances, and I couldn’t pull through tonight.”
It marked the Yankees’ fifth loss this season when leading in the eighth inning or later, which is the most in the majors according to Stathead.
Three of those games have involved Williams, who has allowed 13 earned runs in his first 11 ²/₃ innings as a Yankee — the same number of earned runs he gave up over the past two seasons combined across 80 ¹/₃ innings with the Brewers. His rough introduction to The Bronx has drawn the ire of fans, who again grumbled through his outing Monday.
“I’ve been through it. I know what that feels like,” said Rodón, who struggled in his first season here in 2023. “It’s not easy. But we acquired him for a reason. He’s such a great pitcher. He just needs to build that confidence, and he needs to know what kind of pitcher he is.”
Devin Williams (38) throws a pitch in the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Bronx, NY.
The Yankees (19-16) got 6 ²/₃ shutout innings from Rodón before Fernando Cruz entered and got the final out of the seventh on two pitches to preserve the 3-0 lead.
Aaron Boone said he considered having Cruz stay in for the eighth, but the righty had just thrown two innings Saturday and the situation was “just set up for Devin there.”
“Wanting to not overdo it there [with Cruz] and keep everyone in play here moving forward, too,” Boone said.
After striking out the first batter he faced, Williams walked ex-Yankee Tyler Wade and gave up a broken-bat single to No. 9 hitter Brandon Lockridge (a former Yankees minor leaguer).
He then struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. for a big second out but followed by walking Luis Arraez on four pitches to end his night.
“Both walks were obviously not what you’re trying to do,” Williams said. “But I was kind of battling myself there with the landing spot. Tough to control the fastball today.”
Trent Grisham (12) celebrates with Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a two run home run scoring Jorbit Vivas (90) in the third inning against the San Diego Padres.
Trent Grisham (12) 2-run home run during the third inning when the New York Yankees played the San Diego Padres Monday, May 5, 2025 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY.
Weaver entered and quickly got tagged for a two-run double by Manny Machado and a two-run single from Xander Bogaerts. Just like that, the Padres (23-11) led 4-3.
Before Monday, Weaver had inherited five runners this season and had not allowed any to score. The go-ahead run, which was charged to Weaver, marked the first he allowed this season after 21 straight scoreless outings dating back to last September.
“Just not executed well enough,” Weaver said. “The circumstance really needed some true quality pitches, and I feel like I just didn’t it to where it needed to go. It’s a lack of execution.”
Rodón scattered just three hits and one walk while striking out five and working into the seventh inning. It continued a strong run by the left-hander over his past four starts in which he has given up just three runs (two earned) and 11 hits across 25 ²/₃ innings.
Trent Grisham provided a lead with a two-run homer off Nick Pivetta in the third inning.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) out in a play-at-the-plate at home trying to score on a double by New York Yankees first base Ben Rice (22) during the first inning when the New York Yankees played the San Diego Padres Monday, May 5, 2025.
It was Grisham’s ninth home run of the season in his 93rd plate appearance, the same number of homers he had in 209 plate appearances last year as he continues to force his way into the lineup consistently.
Anthony Volpe, who returned to the lineup Monday following a one-game absence with a shoulder scare, made it 3-0 in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Paul Goldschmidt. But it still wasn’t enough.
“I know this is part of the game,” Weaver said, “but it’s a real stinger for sure.”
