Ryan Yarbrough led the New York Yankees offensively, alongside Ben Rice, who had four hits in six innings and hit a two-run homer, helping the Yankees secure a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles on Sunday. This win prevented the from being swept for the first time this season.
The had dominated earlier by winning the first two games in their World Series rematch, including a heavy 18-2 win on Saturday. However, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, despite being part of the injured roster, struggled early in front of a season-high crowd of 54,031 at Stadium.
Yarbrough (3-0) allowed just one run and pitched a solid fifth inning in his fifth start. He was the ’ savior last season and was presented with a World Series ring while in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Yamamoto (6-4) gave up seven hits—the most he’s allowed this season—and pitched seven innings, allowing four runs and walking three batters.
DJ LeMahieu of the Yankees achieved his first four-hit game since 2021. The Yankees opened the scoring with Jackson Dominguez’s RBI single, despite a misplay on a throw from left fielder Andy Page to catcher Will Smith, which kept Dominguez safe on base. Unfortunately, Dominguez later left the game due to a thumb injury.
Tommy Edman hit a homer to tie the game, but Yarbrough then retired 13 of the next 15 batters. Page and Max Muncy added home runs in the seventh inning.
The Yankees extended their lead to 4-1 in the third inning with a 425-foot homer by Rice to center field, aided by an Aaron Judge walk and RBI singles by Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells, the latter scoring on a wild pitch by Yamamoto. In the fifth inning, the Yankees increased their lead with RBI singles from LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza against pitcher Lou Toribio. LeMahieu’s RBI double in the ninth made the final score 7-3.
Notably, both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were hitless, despite Ohtani being the first reigning MVP with a first-inning homer in Friday’s game. Judge was the only Yankee with two strikeouts and a walk.
Statistically, the Yankees have a perfect 4-0 record this season when facing potential series sweeps, defeating teams like Arizona, Detroit, Cleveland, and the . Remarkably, this was the first time the ’ top four batters went hitless this season.
Looking forward, Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (7-3, 2.60 ERA) is scheduled to pitch against Cleveland on Tuesday, while right-hander Dustin May (3-4, 4.20) will face the New York Mets on Monday night.
Reported by Associated Press.
Fan Take: This game highlights the resilience of the Yankees, showcasing their ability to bounce back from tough losses and avoid being swept by a strong team. For baseball fans, it underscores the exciting unpredictability of the season and the thrilling rivalry between two of the sport’s most iconic franchises.
