Fernando Cruz uses his ‘gift pitch’ to get Yankees out of big late-game jam

Fernando Cruz refers to his splitter as his “gift pitch.” 

When it’s diving effectively, that gift translates to swings and misses by opposing batters in bunches. 

The righty reliever and his heavy splitter delivered three key strikeouts with two runners aboard in the eighth inning Sunday, and his lights-out performance with a one-run deficit gave the Yankees a chance to post three runs in the bottom half for a 4-2 win over the Orioles at the Stadium. 

With the Yanks trailing 2-1, lefty Tim Hill walked the first two batters he faced in the inning, but Cruz came on and fanned Ramón Laureano, Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins — all swinging — in succession to squelch the threat. 

“In that situation where two guys are on, you really want the swing-and-miss. The game’s on the line there, you’re gonna live or die with it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. “Just an outstanding job of execution. To strike out three [in a row] was massive to keep the game right there.” 

Fernando Cruz reacts during the Yankees-Orioles game on June 22, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The uplifting outing marked the first relief appearance for Cruz since he had walked three batters and allowed a run in one inning of work in Wednesday’s loss to the Angels. 

“That’s gonna happen every now and then. The reality is, on balance, he’s been outstanding for us this year,” Boone added. 

Indeed, the 35-year-old Cruz has posted a 3.26 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 30 ¹/₃ innings over 29 appearances since he was acquired in a December deal that sent former All-Star catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds. 

“I feel like my splitter is just a gift pitch. It’s been there the whole time, I just had to make an adjustment to get it more to the strike zone. Today was that kind of day,” Cruz said. “We’ve been working at it. We’ve been on top of it, and it was there today. 

“It feels like everything for me because there were two runners that my guy left on base. I think picking [Hill] up, like he picks me up every time, is such a huge thing for me and being able to help the team stay with a one-run [deficit] was huge for us to be able to come back and win it.” 

Cruz didn’t make it to the major leagues until his age-32 season, when Cincinnati finally promoted him in 2022 after 12 seasons in minor league ball.

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The first-place Yankees will open a three-game road series Monday night against the Reds. 

“It means a lot. Cincinnati is a special place for me. It’s gonna be like that my whole life,” Cruz said. “It’s where I made my debut, and it’s the organization that gave me an opportunity. 

“I really appreciate everything that they’ve done, but now I’m in another chapter in my life with the Yankees, and we’re gonna take care of business.”