Yankees Face White Sox Grand Slam Loss and Fan Backlash Over Spencer Jones Lineup Move

On June 18, 2026, Chicago White Sox pinch‑hitter Andrew Benintendi delivered a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium, lifting the White Sox to a 5‑1 victory over the New York Yankees. The blast ended a nine‑game road losing streak against the Yankees and marked the White Sox’s first win at the stadium since June 8, 2023. Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz took the loss, while Chicago reliever Sean Burke earned the win.

Two days later, Yankees manager kept rookie Spencer Jones out of the starting lineup for the June 20 game against the Cincinnati Reds, sparking criticism from fans on social media. Jones, a 2022 first‑round draft pick, was batting .235 with two home runs in his first 20 games and had recently posted a .296 average over his last ten outings. The Yankees sit at 46‑28, leading the AL East by three games, and will travel to Detroit for their next series.