Did Guerrero light a fire? Yankees respond with doubleheader fury

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Did Guerrero’s taunt in the Bronx ignite the Yankees’ doubleheader brilliance?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s sixth-inning blast on Friday might have done more than just give Toronto a lead—it potentially awakened a sleeping giant in the Bronx. The New York Yankees responded with thunderous authority on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader behind Max Fried’s pitching brilliance and Aaron Judge’s timely power.

The sequence raises an intriguing question: Did Guerrero’s statement homer inadvertently fuel the Yankees’ weekend resurgence?

Guerrero’s Yankee Stadium statement

Entering Friday’s contest with just a single home run in 2025, Guerrero found his power stroke in familiar territory. His 108 mph missile into the left-center field seats broke a scoreless deadlock and marked his 15th career homer at Yankee Stadium—his highest total at any visiting ballpark.

“I feel very comfortable on this field when I’m hitting,” Guerrero said after the game. “You never hear the fans booing a bad ballplayer. So if they boo you, that means you’re good.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. now has 15 career home runs at Yankee Stadium. That's tied for 5th most by a visiting player at the current Yankee Stadium. pic.twitter.com/EwKpCq9dc6

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2025

Those confident taunts at the Yankees nation were widely circulated through social media and the Yankees’ clubhouse. Though never explicitly acknowledged, Sunday’s emphatic response suggested Guerrero’s words registered with the home team.

Yankees answer with doubleheader dominance

Following a stretch where they dropped three of four games, the Yankees found their momentum Sunday behind stellar pitching and renewed offensive firepower.

Fried delivered another masterclass in the opener, yielding just one run across six strong innings in an 11-2 rout. Judge then provided the decisive blow in the nightcap, launching a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning of a 5-1 victory. Together, these performances powered a sweep that appeared motivated by Friday night’s setback.

Fried improved his perfect record to 6-0, as the Yankees have emerged victorious in each of his starts this season. His ERA inched up slightly to 1.43, further validating his status as one of the organization’s most impactful offseason acquisitions.

“I think there’s an inning every start that he gets through and then rolls after that,” said catcher Austin Wells. “That’s why he’s had so much success. That’s why he’s here.”

Judge reclaims spotlight

After an eight-game homerless stretch, Judge reasserted his power presence in the second game. Facing Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt, Judge deposited an opposite-field drive into the right-field seats, breaking a tie and giving New York a 2-1 advantage. The blast represented his eighth homer this season and highlighted a productive 3-for-8 day that extended his on-base streak to 24 consecutive games.

“He’s amazing,” said manager Aaron Boone. “People have to be aware of how dangerous he is with his power. You have to be perfect. When you’re not, obviously, he can hurt you.”

Gausman melts down before Yankees offense

The opening contest turned dramatically in the third inning when Toronto starter Kevin Gausman experienced a shocking collapse. After cruising through two perfect frames, Gausman unraveled completely, issuing five walks and surrendering a bases-clearing double to Wells during a six-run Yankees outburst.

“Everyone dialed into the zone,” Wells said of the pivotal inning. “That turned into a lot of at-bats.”

Gausman, who needed just 18 pitches for the first two innings, expended 53 in the disastrous third and failed to complete the frame. His frustration boiled over into an ejection for arguing balls and strikes as he departed, marking his briefest outing in more than a year.

The Yankees capitalized relentlessly on this opportunity, with Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Anthony Volpe contributing to the offensive explosion, indicating the lineup might be heating up collectively.

Grisham launches a lone blast to right-center, giving the Yankees an immediate 1-0 advantage in the opening frame. Volpe delivered an impressive performance across Sunday’s doubleheader against Toronto, collecting four hits in seven at-bats while crossing the plate twice, driving in two runs, and smashing a home run as the teams split the twin bill. Chisholm Jr. and Dominguez also contributed key run-producing hits in the action.

Schmidt returns strong, bullpen completes sweep

The nightcap featured Clarke Schmidt’s successful return from right shoulder tendinitis, as he limited Toronto to one hit and one run over five effective innings. The bullpen secured the victory, highlighted by Luke Weaver’s ninth-inning appearance in his new closer role.

Weaver, who recently replaced struggling Devin Williams as the team’s ninth-inning specialist, delivered a clean frame to seal the doubleheader sweep.

Fried continues to exceed expectations

Max Fried’s impact on the Yankees’ rotation cannot be overstated. Signed to a seven-year, $218 million contract after the organization missed out on retaining Juan Soto, Fried has surpassed even the loftiest projections.

“Getting to call games for him, it’s a fun back-and-forth,” Wells said. “He’s better than I expected.”

Though not as dominant as during his near no-hitter against Tampa Bay earlier in the week, Fried navigated early trouble before finding his rhythm and neutralizing Toronto’s lineup.

The doubleheader featured additional fireworks when Blue Jays manager John Schneider received an ejection during Guerrero’s fifth-inning at-bat in Game 1, protesting the strike zone amid growing frustration.

Guerrero, whose Friday heroics potentially sparked the Yankees‘ response, couldn’t replicate his earlier success on Sunday, remaining relatively quiet throughout both contests.

Did Guerrero’s remarks set the tone?

While no Yankees explicitly attributed their renewed focus to Guerrero’s Friday performance, the timing suggests a connection. New York displayed purpose and intensity in all facets, seemingly determined to reassert their dominance at home.

Whatever sparked their resurgence, the outcome was definitive: a comprehensive sweep, restored confidence, and perhaps, a message delivered in response to Friday’s challenge.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

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