Aaron Judge had already flipped the script in the bottom of the eighth, when his two-run homer to right field made it 4-3 Yankees over the Rays.

But Didi Gregorius completely broke down the door with a grand slam in the same frame to pull away.

With the crowd chanting his name, Gregorius sent a moonshot to the right field bleachers, and a big smile crossed his face as he sent the Yankee Stadium crowd into a frenzy. It's a scene Gregorius has orchestrated so many times in the past, but this season following his long IL stint due to Tommy John surgery recovery, it has been a rare sight.

Gregorius has been easing himself back into the Yankees' lineup since being activated on June 7, and believes he's almost to where he wants to be.

"It's getting there," Gregorius told Newsday's Kenny DeJohn. "I am only here for 100-something at-bats, and I finally got a chance to come through for the team. I've been in a tough situation, and I didn't get hits, but it felt really good to come through for the team like that."

Before the All-Star break, Gregorius was making his mark, going 14-for-32 from June 24 to July 3 with three homers and six RBI. However, that's been his only hot streak, with the rest of his performance mundane.

Gregorius hasn't made any excuses, though, when it comes to his numbers. He knows there is still work to do to fully strengthen that right arm again.

"With the injury, there's nothing I can do. Things happen," he said. "You can't predict the future. You can't avoid everything because things happen. That's all I am trying to do...be the best I can be and make adjustments to get better."

Gregorius made an adjustment last night. Seeing multiple fastballs from left-hander Colin Poche during his at-bat, he was waiting for one on the 1-2 delivery. It might have been around the shoulders, but Gregorius has shown success with that pitch in the past, getting his hands around quickly to square up the ball.

He may not have been favored in the at-bat, as the hit still gives him a .172 average against lefties this season. But he delivered at the right time, which is all that matters.

"Finally to come through for the team," he said. "I've been in situations and couldn't come through and I was finally able to come through, especially against the lefty. That makes it even better."

Gregorius will look to deliver in these spots more often. And the "Didi!" chants will surely follow.

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