Yankees' Amed Rosario makes Aaron Boone look absolutely brilliant

Rosario slugs two home runs in Yankees' 5-3 win over Athletics

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:14am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicting the powerful swing and explosive energy of a baseball player hitting a home run, capturing the raw athleticism of the moment.Rosario's two-homer performance proves Boone's lineup gamble a winning move for the Yankees.NYC Today

In a surprising move, the New York Yankees benched struggling third baseman Ryan McMahon and started Amed Rosario in his place against the Athletics. Rosario responded by hitting two home runs, leading the Yankees to a 5-3 victory and making manager Aaron Boone look brilliant for the lineup change.

Why it matters

Rosario was not expected to start against the right-handed pitcher, but his performance proved Boone's decision to be a wise one, as the Yankees continue their push for the playoffs in a tight American League East race.

The details

Rosario, who was on the roster primarily to face left-handed pitching, took advantage of the opportunity to start against right-hander Aaron Civale. He slugged two home runs, the third multi-homer game of his career, to lead the Yankees to victory. The move to bench the struggling McMahon in favor of Rosario paid off for Boone and the Yankees.

  • The Yankees played the Athletics on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Amed Rosario

A utility player for the New York Yankees who was previously a top prospect for the Mets and a prominent player for the Cleveland Guardians.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees.

Ryan McMahon

The Yankees' regular third baseman who has struggled to start the 2026 season, batting just 2-for-23 with 11 strikeouts.

Aaron Civale

The right-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics who started the game against the Yankees.

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What they’re saying

“Talk to 'em, Amed 🗣️”

— New York Yankees, Twitter account

What’s next

The Yankees will likely continue to give Amed Rosario more playing time after his strong performance, as they look to keep the momentum going in their push for the playoffs.

The takeaway

Boone's decision to bench the struggling McMahon in favor of Rosario paid immediate dividends, as Rosario's two home runs led the Yankees to victory. This move highlights Boone's willingness to make bold lineup changes when necessary, and Rosario's performance proved the manager's instincts correct.