In a stunning display of offensive fireworks, the New York Yankees scored 10 runs in the seventh inning, led by Austin Wells' first career grand slam, to trounce the San Diego Padres 12-3 at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees' explosive seventh inning not only marked the largest scoring inning of their season, but it also put an end to their three-game losing streak and snapped the Padres' hopeful winning run. With 38,090 fans in attendance, Austin Wells' grand slam was the icing on a cake served up by Clarke Schmidt's solid pitching, ensuring yesterday's game will be remembered as a triumphant clash of titans—except, of course, for San Diego, who may want to check their metaphorical pulse after this 12-3 beatdown.

The seventh inning became a showcase of runs as the Yankees scored 10 runs against the Padres, leaving fans wondering if they still had their teams’ jerseys on backwards. Wells' grand slam, marking his first career grand slam, was a highlight of the inning. It was a moment that can only be described as a baseball symphony composed in a minor key, given that it effectively muted the hopes of the visitors. During the inning, the Yankees accumulated seven hits and drew three walks, including Ben Rice's two-run double.

Before the fireworks of the seventh, the game had been relatively balanced, with the scoreboard resembling a polite discussion rather than an all-out brawl. The Padres were in a position to make history, gunning for their seventh straight win. Sadly, their ambitions were dashed faster than a batted foul ball ricocheting into the stands. It seems their recent success might have lulled them into a false sense of security—perhaps those helmets were a bit too tight.

On the mound, Clarke Schmidt delivered a performance befitting a New York Yankee, tossing six innings while allowing only two runs. The Padres scored those runs rather creatively, thanks to a balk from Schmidt himself along with a sacrifice fly from Jason Heyward. Let’s be honest, the balk may have been the reluctant product of a negotiation between Schmidt and his own nerves—two runs were certainly not the commotion Schmidt intended to make.

Meanwhile, the Padres’ Michael King, who previously sported pinstripes and probably still misses them, faced his old teammates with six innings of duty, allowing two runs. It’s a tale as old as time: facing former employers tends to increase the pressure—especially when they’ve recently become your erstwhile opponents. King put up a good fight, though the decisive round wasn’t one he could claim a victory in.

As the Yankees marched through the seventh, they batted 13 players and tucked away seven hits alongside three walks. At this rate, fans would have expected the Yankees to start pulling players from the crowd for extra innings. Speaking of unexpected appearances, Ben Rice assessed his moment well and fired off a two-run double in a display that cut elegantly through the Padres’ defense, punctuating the inefficacy of their strategy as if to say, 'Yeah, this is how we do it in The Bronx.'

The grand slam and ensuing mayhem were an ironic twist of fate for the Yankees, who had been under the gun as they sought to halt their three-game losing streak. Their loss of momentum prior to this game seemed palpable, as foreboding as the drizzle that once swept through the Bronx—patchy but persistent. Yet, just as clouds give way to sunshine (and, incidentally, this August game took place in glorious weather), the Yankees found their rhythm once again, and fans were treated to a show they didn’t dare expect to see.

In the end, the 12-3 scoreline tells the tale of the two teams—one that squeezed every drop of potential from the moment, while the other wistfully wondered where all those wins had gone. For the Yankees, it was a night where they were less a baseball team and more an artistic institution, whereas the Padres? Well, they may have taken it a bit too literally when they were told to 'play ball.'

As the sun set on Yankee Stadium, fans gradually shuffled out with a renewed sense of hope, fueled by Wells’ grand slam and Judge’s consistent hitting, extending his on-base streak to an impressive 32 games after hitting his 12th homer in the fourth inning. The Padres, meanwhile, head back to the drawing board, where they can brainstorm new strategies for future games—preferably ones that don’t end up with them being compared to piñatas.