Judge, Grisham’s HR helps Yanks rebound against Atlanta, but Stanton leaves early

After three straight losses, the Yankees needed a win on Saturday night. They got one, 8-3 against Atlanta, before 45,056 at Yankee Stadium.

But they also could have lost Giancarlo Stanton, who left the game for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning because of left hamstring strain. The Yankees said Stanton will undergo an MRI on Sunday.

Stanton appeared to limp as he left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters. Manager Aaron Boone said Stanton injured his leg while fielding third while scoring on Gleyber Torres’ double in the fourth inning.

“I hope it’s not too big,” Boone said. “He just came up to me after that (inning) and told me he had to come out. We’ll see what we have tomorrow.

Marcus Stroman allowed one run and two hits in six innings and ended up allowing three runs and three hits in 6+1⁄2 innings.

Aaron Judge gave the Yankees their first lead in four games with his MLB-leading 28th home run, a two-run shot in the first inning, and they led the rest of the way. Judge finished with three RBIs, giving him a 70.

Stanton’s history of leg injuries and lengthy stints on the injured list took a toll on the excellent season he had after spending the offseason losing weight in an attempt to stay healthy.

Stanton led off the fourth with a sizzling double over the center field fence and slightly rounded second before returning to the bag. He scored without throwing two batters later on Torres’ double to left to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead.

Torres returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday’s game with right groin tightness and sitting out Friday. The Yankees can only hope that Stanton heals quickly, but history is not on their side.

Stanton is batting .246 with 18 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .794 OPS in 69 games. If he has to go on the injured list, that could lead to more designated hitter responsibility for Judge.

“Hopefully we’ll have some news (Sunday),” Judge said. “But he’s such a force for this offense, being in the middle of this lineup. . . Hitting home runs. I’m arriving with the guys from the base. That’s a big part of his game. So hopefully we’ll get some good news.

Atlanta took a 1-0 lead early in the first half thanks to Marcell Ozuna’s homer into the Yankees bullpen.

With one out late in the first half, Juan Soto walked Charlie Morton before Judge crushed a 366-foot home run to right center to give the Yankees their first lead since Tuesday against Baltimore.

“Momentum change, you know?” » said Stroman. “It gives me a boost, definitely a boost, and kind of kicks me into gear, letting me know that I need to do a little bit more because they’re doing their part.”

Judge’s double play with the bases loaded made it 3-1 in the third.

Three runs came home with Aaron Bummer on the mound in the sixth. The left-hander replaced Morton (97 pitches) with a man on first and walked Austin Wells, gave up a two-run single by Oswaldo Cabrera, allowed a double to Anthony Volpe, walked Soto and walked Judge to force a point before getting Alex Verdugo. on a groundout to end the inning.

In the previous two games, starters Luis Gil and Carlos Rodon had 19 hits and 15 runs (14 earned) in a combined five innings. The Yankees (52-27) had no such problems Saturday.

Stroman (7-3, 3.15 ERA) was in control until Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-out, two-run homer on the right-hander’s 93rd and final pitch in the seventh. Stroman walked two and struck out six.

“It’s just a good outing after a bit of a tough week for us,” Boone said. “It was big.”

Boone was ejected earlier in the seventh by home plate umpire Derek Thomas after challenging a four-pitch call to Ozuna. Stroman threw four straight balls to Ozuna, but two of them, including the fourth, appeared to be in the upper part of the strike zone.

“I understand. I kept going a little bit,” Boone said. “But I just felt like there were some pitches at the top of the zone that we should have had.”

Grisham, who could get more playing time in center if Stanton goes to the IL, hit an opposite-field homer to left to make it 8-3 in the seventh.

The Yankees learned earlier in the week that top outfield prospect Jasson Dominguez will be out approximately eight weeks after suffering an oblique strain, so he is not an option for promotion.