Yet again in a game between these two teams, the Dodgers were perfect when they needed to be, and yet again the Yankees were not. 

The difference in Friday’s series opener — the first time the pair matched up in The Bronx since a 2024 World Series that Aaron Boone’s group will forever regret — may have been a standout defensive play by the Dodgers and a base-running play by the Yankees that was not good enough. 

In a game the Dodgers were leading 2-1 — which would be the final score — Ben Rice clubbed a double off the wall in right-center in the eighth inning. With one out, Trent Grisham did not fully take off from first base until it was clear the ball was landing. 

It looked as if he slowed up a touch going from second to third, which Grisham denied. If he was surprised third base coach Luis Rojas waved him home — an aggressive send, if understandable considering the Yankees’ offensive struggles — he denied it. 

What he did acknowledge was being “conscious” of his hamstring, which he strained in June and caused him to miss three weeks into July. 

Regardless, Grisham said he “picked up” Rojas great, rounded third base and was beaten to the plate because the defense behind him was excellent.

Trent Grisham is thrown at the plate in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Dodgers on July 17, 2026 at the Stadium. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Andy Pages, who boasts among the best outfield arms in the game, threw hard but inaccurately, forcing Mookie Betts to sprint from shallow center field toward where he began the play at shortstop. Betts caught the ball on the run and quickly relayed home while running toward third base.

Catcher Dalton Rushing backhanded up the first-base line and quickly moved his arm across his body and threw his glove down, hitting Grisham’s cleat as Grisham tried to sneak his foot across. 

Trent Grisham is tagged out at home. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“It was bang-bang,” said Grisham, but yet again, the Dodgers were just a little bit better. 

If Rojas held up Grisham, the Yankees would have had runners on second and third with one out and No. 3 hitter Paul Goldschmidt due up to face lefty Alex Vesia (although the Dodgers likely would have walked the lefty killer and set up Cody Bellinger with the bases loaded). 

“I thought Luis actually did a good job in reading the throw that it was going over the second baseman’s head, and Mookie was kind of on the run to have to go make the play,” Boone said, “and made a pretty good throw on the run. 

“So, don’t have an issue with taking the shot there.”