New York Yankees 5-2 Texas Rangers
Aaron Judge blasted a crucial two-run shot in the late innings, Will Warren recorded a personal-best 10 strikeouts, and Ben Rice contributed a solo homer as the New York Yankees dispatched the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Tuesday evening at Yankee Stadium in a showdown between the American League’s previous two pennant representatives.
The triumph elevated New York to a season-high nine games above .500 (28-19) and extended the club’s impressive stretch, with the Bronx Bombers now victorious in nine of their previous 12 contests.
Warren’s standout performance sets foundation
Rookie right-hander Will Warren (3-2) delivered the most compelling start of his budding major league career, striking out 10 batters across 5 2/3 innings while conceding merely five hits and one walk. He navigated a pivotal sixth-inning predicament, freezing Marcus Semien with a perfectly located third strike before Mark Leiter Jr. fanned Joc Pederson to leave the bases filled.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Warren’s major league composure in his postgame comments. He noted that the rookie kept a championship-caliber lineup off-stride and came through in a pivotal situation that could have changed the course of the game.
Rice reaches double-digit homer milestone
Ben Rice initiated the scoring with a second-inning solo blast — his 10th of the campaign — sending a towering drive into the second deck against Rangers southpaw Patrick Corbin (3-3). Rice later added a sacrifice fly in the fourth that extended the lead to 2-0, bringing home Cody Bellinger, who prolonged his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a bloop single earlier in the frame.
Anthony Volpe subsequently enhanced the advantage with an RBI blooper double, pushing the Yankees ahead 3-0 before Judge provided the decisive blow.
Judge connects shortest career homer, longest ovation
Following a prolonged sixth-inning delay involving Texas manager Bruce Bochy’s ejection for disputing the strike zone, Aaron Judge settled matters in the eighth. The Yankees captain lofted a 326-foot drive just inside the right-field foul pole — the shortest home run of his career — to increase the Yankees’ lead to 5-0.
The shot represented Judge’s 16th round-tripper this season, moving him into sole possession of the American League home run lead.
Peraza’s spectacular catch highlights defensive showcase
Defensively, the Yankees produced one of their most remarkable plays this season. In the sixth, third baseman Oswald Peraza executed a fully extended, tumbling catch over the rolled-up tarp in foul territory, earning a standing ovation from the Bronx crowd and preventing a potential momentum shift.
Hamilton, Weaver secure victory
Ian Hamilton cruised until the ninth when Jonah Heim connected for a two-run homer with two outs to deprive the Yankees of a shutout. But with a runner at third, Luke Weaver retired Josh Smith on a foul pop-up for his sixth save this year, cementing the win and concluding another impressive outing from the bullpen.
Key moments & stats
- Bottom 2nd: Rice’s 10th homer provides New York a 1-0 edge.
- Top 6th: Warren freezes Semien with bases loaded, Leiter follows by striking out Pederson.
- Bottom 8th: Judge’s 326-foot drive barely clears the fence — and seals the outcome.
Cody Bellinger’s 14-game hitting streak marks the longest of his major league career. The outfielder has produced a .346/.389/.615 slash line during this stretch, fueling the Yankees’ offensive resurgence.
Yankees roster
| hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| P. Goldschmidt1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.339 | 0.392 | 0.486 |
| T. GrishamCF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.274 | 0.371 | 0.589 |
| A. JudgeRF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.403 | 0.491 | 0.762 |
| C. BellingerLF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.258 | 0.33 | 0.453 |
| A. VolpeSS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.235 | 0.321 | 0.424 |
| B. RiceDH | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.259 | 0.352 | 0.552 |
| D. LeMahieu2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.267 | 0.353 | 0.467 |
| A. WellsC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.204 | 0.274 | 0.453 |
| O. Peraza3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.164 | 0.239 | 0.311 |
| pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HR | PC-ST | ERA |
| W. Warren(W, 3-2) | 5.2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 101-65 | 4.05 |
| M. Leiter Jr.(H, 6) | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13-10 | 2.75 |
| D. Williams(H, 4) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24-13 | 6.88 |
| I. Hamilton | 0.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17-10 | 5.65 |
| L. Weaver(S, 6) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-Feb | 0.44 |
Up Next
Wednesday, May 21 — Yankee Stadium, New York
Yankees starter: LHP Ryan Yarbrough (1-0, 3.70 ERA)
Rangers starter: RHP Jacob deGrom (4-1, 2.29 ERA)
First pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
The Yankees will aim to clinch the series victory against former Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who is now returning to the Bronx wearing different colors. Ryan Yarbrough takes the mound for New York, seeking to sustain the team’s winning momentum and demonstrate his value against one of the American League’s most formidable pitchers.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
