New York – The Bronx was back to buzzing Thursday night as the New York Yankees snapped out of their offensive funk behind a three-hit game from Jazz Chisholm Jr., a long homer from Cody Bellinger, and a masterclass from Max Fried. In front of a lively home crowd, the Yankees shut out the Cleveland Guardians, 4-0, to clinch another series and reaffirm their place atop the American League standings.
It wasn’t just a win — it was a statement.
Chisholm sparks Yankees lineup
Jazz Chisholm Jr. delivered his most complete performance since returning from the injured list. The dynamic infielder went 3-for-4, collecting an RBI single in the seventh and swiping his seventh base of the season.
It marked Chisholm’s second three-hit game in just 33 appearances and showcased the high-energy potential that the Yankees envisioned when they brought him aboard in the offseason. His average now sits at .207, but over the last three games, he’s 5-for-9 with sharper contact and improved plate discipline.
“I’m just trusting the process again,” Chisholm said. “Sometimes it’s about rhythm, and right now I feel that coming back.”
Bellinger blasts off
Cody Bellinger provided the offensive thunder, slugging a 398-foot home run to right-center in the fourth inning to break the deadlock. The shot came after Aaron Judge blooped a double into shallow left-center — the Yankees’ first hit of the game.
Bellinger wasn’t done. In the seventh, with the Yankees clinging to a 2-0 lead and two on, he delivered again — a clutch two-out single to right that scored Trent Grisham. Chisholm followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0.
Bellinger finished the night with 3 RBIs, matching his most productive game of the season.
“He’s got that clutch gene,” Boone said. “Big spots don’t bother him — they motivate him.”
Judge’s quiet brilliance, Peraza’s loud contact
Aaron Judge reached base three times, including two intentional walks and a fourth-inning double. The American League MVP frontrunner raised his average to .392 and continues to lead the league in OBP and SLG.
Oswald Peraza also impressed, going 2-for-3 with three hard-hit balls over 100 mph. His lone out was a deep fly ball that Cleveland’s Angel Martinez tracked down in spectacular fashion, crashing into the center field wall feet-first.
Peraza’s contributions may force the Yankees to reconsider their infield rotation as the trade deadline nears.
Fried’s bounce-back: Burn by fire of debacle
After suffering his first loss of the season last weekend in Los Angeles, Max Fried wasted no time reasserting his dominance. The southpaw was electric, tossing six shutout innings while allowing only one hit, a first-inning single by Jose Ramirez. From that point on, Fried was untouchable — retiring 11 straight batters at one point and striking out seven across 103 pitches.
He lowered his ERA to 1.78, the best by any Yankees starter through 13 games since Phil Niekro in 1984 (1.73), per Sarah Langs of MLB.
“Max gave us everything,” said manager Aaron Boone. “He calmed the game down early and let our offense find itself.”
Bullpen holds the line
After Fried exited, the bullpen faced its biggest test in the seventh. Mark Leiter Jr. gave up two singles, and a throwing error by Anthony Volpe loaded the bases with one out.
Boone turned to Tim Hill, and the veteran left-hander responded in style: striking out Bo Naylor and getting Jhonkensy Noel to fly out to end the threat. Hill remained in for a scoreless eighth, finishing with five outs on 18 pitches.
Jonathan Loaisiga took the ninth and completed the shutout with a tidy 1-2-3 inning, securing the Yankees’ 38th win of the season.
Dominguez returns, rusty but healthy
Jasson Domínguez returned to the lineup after missing a few games with a finger injury. The highly touted outfielder went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, including a flyout with the bases loaded in the seventh.
Boone didn’t seem concerned: “He’s working his way back. It’ll come.”
The Yankees improved to 38-23, keeping pace with Baltimore in a tight AL East race. More importantly, they looked like a complete team Thursday: elite pitching, timely hitting, and airtight bullpen work.
With Will Warren set to open a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox, New York has a chance to further assert control as June heats up.
“We’re trying to build momentum,” said Fried. “Games like tonight are how you do it.”
If Chisholm’s bat continues to wake up and Bellinger finds his MVP form, the Yankees’ lineup could finally match the strength of their rotation.
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