Trent Grisham powers Yankees past White Sox

CHICAGO — It was in the early days of spring training this year when the ever-optimistic Aaron Boone said he liked how Trent Grisham looked. 

But this? Twenty-eight home runs and counting, regular leadoff hitter and an integral part of what the Yankees are doing? 

Not even Boone, with the best version of pinstriped glasses, could have predicted this. 

Grisham’s breakout season continued Friday when he homered for the third straight game, crushing a grand slam that created some early breathing room before the Yankees piled on late for their season-high sixth straight win, 10-2 over the White Sox at a crisp Rate Field. 

“It’s what I’ve always dreamed about and thought I was capable of,” Grisham said of his career-high 28 homers in his seventh season as a big leaguer. “To do it is a whole other thing. But no, it does not surprise me.” 

Continuing to feast on the bottom-feeders on their schedule, the Yankees (75-60) pulled within three games of the Blue Jays for the division lead — the closest they have been since July 22 — and leapfrogged the Red Sox by a half-game for second place in the AL East and the top AL wild card. 

“It’s a fun time of year,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It’s a lot on the line. [The standings] are not something we can worry too much about. We really got to handle our business and play our game.” 

The Yankees improved to 11-3 in their past 14 games, the three losses coming to the Red Sox. This hot streak will come with an asterisk because it has featured beating up on bad teams — the same bad teams that are on every other playoff contender’s schedule — but the Yankees will get a chance to prove it is real beginning Tuesday against the Astros. 

On a night they were out-hit 12-7 (but drew nine walks), the Yankees scored 10 or more runs for the fourth time in their past five games — making it an MLB-high 22 on the season — all coming against the Nationals and White Sox (48-87), the clubs with the third- and second-worst records in the majors. 

“It’s been pretty incredible,” Carlos Rodón said of the offensive attack that gave him plenty of support as he threw six innings of one-run ball. “They’ve made it really on us to go out and fill up the zone and attack and let the defense make plays.” 

Grisham has had a big hand in that, belting five home runs in his past six games. The latest was a grand slam off ex-Yankee Yoendrys Gómez on Friday that made it a 5-0 game in the fourth inning. 

After spending last season as the Yankees’ fourth outfielder, Grisham has become an everyday factor, now boasting a .836 OPS near the end of August. 

“The fact that he’s sitting here as our leadoff guy, over a .350 on-base [percentage], 28 homers now, I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat,” said Boone, who recently described Grisham as “indispensable.” 

“But he’s taken the opportunity and completely run with it and put together a real career year for himself.” 

Grisham attributed the hot stretch to getting his mind to the next level of locked in. 

“I like it and I want to get there a lot more often,” he said. “It’s really hard to do on a night in and night out basis, just because we’re humans. But getting there, that’s a big thrill. To do it and do it with a bunch of guys that are trying to do the exact same thing, and playing against the best players in the world every night, it’s really special.” 

Anthony Volpe also had another encouraging night, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run shot — his first home run since Aug. 12. The shortstop, who entered this series in a 1-for-37 rut, has now gone 4-for-7 in the first two games of the four-game set. 

Rodón handled the rest. Ten-plus years after he made his MLB debut on this mound (back when it was U.S. Cellular Field), and nearly four years since he last pitched on it at all, Rodón made his first start back as a visitor and lowered his ERA to 3.18 in his 28th start of the season. 

“It was a pleasure to be back,” said Rodón, who received a tribute video after an early inning. 

The left-hander is a different pitcher now than he was then — “more of a pitcher than a thrower,” he said — but proving effective nonetheless. 

“Just continues to be that guy we can count on,” Boone said.