Judge makes up with glove after skipping Yankees home run parade

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Yankees captain couldn’t join the offensive barrage against the Royals, but excelled in the field defensively.

The spring evening at Yankee Stadium brought more than just pleasant temperatures Monday night—it delivered the offensive explosion Yankees faithful had been desperately awaiting.

Following a week of frustrating offensive inconsistency and disappointing outcomes, the Bronx Bombers finally lived up to their nickname. Four solo shots, all from left-handed batters, complemented a resurgent Carlos Carrasco performance as New York dispatched the Kansas City Royals 4-1.

This crucial victory halted a troubling stretch where the Yankees had dropped five of seven contests, improving their record to 9-7 and maintaining their position in the American League East race.

Left-side Yankees power show electrifies Bronx

The Yankees entered Monday’s matchup hungry for an offensive spark. They found it in spectacular fashion against Royals hurler Seth Lugo, who had surrendered just a single home run across 16 2/3 innings prior to facing New York.

That statistic quickly became obsolete.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., Trent Grisham, Ben Rice, and Austin Wells all connected for solo homers, with a remarkable three blasts occurring in the fifth inning alone. The power display represented the team’s highest single-game home run output since the season’s opening weekend, showcasing the lineup’s formidable potential.

Chisholm, who went deep for the second consecutive game, offered a weather-related explanation for the sudden power surge. “Like I said, it was cold. It’s getting warm now, so we’re gonna warm up.”

All four homers came without runners aboard, highlighting the Yankees’ aggressive approach at the plate. Three of the round-trippers occurred on either the first or second pitch of the at-bat, revealing a clear strategic adjustment against Lugo’s strike-throwing tendencies.

“We all know he’s very aggressive in the zone,” Chisholm explained. “The last couple of games, he’s been in the strike zone a lot before two strikes, so get your pitch early.”

Manager Aaron Boone commended his team’s preparedness and execution. “We had a handful of good swings from our lefties and were able to jump him. It’s good to see some of those bats getting hot.”

Judge contributes defensively

Though Aaron Judge went hitless and continues seeking offensive consistency, his defensive prowess proved crucial. His key catch on Pasquantino’s warning-track drive in the third inning preserved a manageable deficit just before the Yankees’ bats awakened.

While Judge hasn’t yet matched his MVP-caliber start from 2024, his elite defense and steady presence remain invaluable. Boone expressed minimal concern regarding the slugger’s slow offensive beginning, stating simply that Judge was close and it was just a matter of time before he found his rhythm at the plate.

Carrasco rediscovers form Yankees desperately needed

On the mound, Carlos Carrasco delivered his finest performance in pinstripes. The 38-year-old veteran crafted five impressive innings, yielding just a single hit—Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo blast—while recording four strikeouts against two walks.

This remarkable turnaround followed a disastrous previous outing where Carrasco surrendered three homers in a single frame against Detroit.

The night began inauspiciously for Carrasco, who issued two free passes in the opening inning and required 26 pitches to navigate through it. However, after escaping that early difficulty, he found his rhythm, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters he faced.

The lone blemish came via Witt’s third-inning homer, which concluded a 10-pitch battle and temporarily gave Kansas City a 1-0 advantage. Vinnie Pasquantino nearly followed with another blast, but Aaron Judge tracked a deep drive to the warning track in right field to end the threat.

Carrasco credited his composed approach for the recovery from early trouble. “I was thinking about that I don’t have anything on base. I just go pitch, one pitch at a time, and that’s what I did—and we were able to get out of the inning.”

This performance not only bolstered Carrasco’s confidence but also provided critical stability for a Yankees rotation decimated by the absences of Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman, and Luis Gil.

With Clarke Schmidt scheduled to return later this week to assume Stroman’s spot, Carrasco’s impressive showing may have secured his rotation role longer—particularly given the limited alternatives currently available.

Relief corps seal victory

The Yankees’ bullpen, which has quietly emerged as a strength during the 2025 campaign despite rotation challenges, built upon Carrasco’s foundation masterfully. Fernando Cruz dominated in relief, retiring all four batters faced—including three via strikeout. Tim Hill and Luke Weaver navigated the eighth before Devin Williams secured the ninth for his second save.

In total, the relief corps delivered four scoreless frames while allowing just a single baserunner after Carrasco’s departure.

Boone emphasized the bullpen’s reliability during the team’s recent offensive inconsistency. He noted that such steadiness is essential during periods of offensive fluctuation, praising how the relievers consistently keep the team competitive in games and highlighting their exceptional performance that evening.

Dominance over AL Central continues

The victory extended the Yankees’ remarkable success against the AL Central. Since 2024’s beginning, they boast a 26-9 record against the division—a pattern that has significantly bolstered their playoff aspirations over both seasons.

With two more contests against Kansas City remaining in the current series, the Yankees have an excellent opportunity to accumulate crucial early-season victories and build momentum before facing tougher opponents in the coming weeks.

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