Yanks complete the Sweep of the Royals!

The Bronx, NY — The Yankees completed the Sweep of the Royals in what, in my opinion, was their best game of 2025, so far.

⚾️ Final Score: 4-3 Yankees over Royals

WP: Leiter Jr. (2-1) 3.52

LP: Schreiber (1-1) 3.86

SV: Cruz (1)

📰 Clarke Schmidt made his first start of 2025 and looked very good in the start, but gave up 3 runs. Volpe had a big 2-out RBI double in the 3rd and Belli with an RBI Double in the 4th. Judge gave the Yankees the lead with his 7th HR of the year, and Belli dives to save the game in the 9th.

📊 Record: 11-7

📈 Streak: W3

🗓️: Thursday at TB: W. Warren (1-0) 5.14 vs. T. Bradley (2-0) 3.71

Clarke Schmidt made his first start of the 2025 season, and got into some trouble early, giving up an RBI single to Salvador Perez, but would escape further trouble in the inning. Clarke quickly settled down, retiring 11 in a row at one point, and throwing 24 pitches over three innings. Clarke did surrender two more runs in the 5th inning on an RBI triple and an RBI groundout.

The Bullpen came in and got the job done. Mark Leiter Jr., helped by a pickoff by Wells/Volpe got the final out of the sixth, then Leiter recorded a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Leiter has looked solid for the most part this year in high leverage roles.

Volpe and Garcia have some history together from the ALDS where Volpe gave him the “nice try buddy” after a double play slide to second, causing chirping and the benches clearing. I guess Volpe and the Yankees won that argument.

Fernando Cruz came in and had a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Boone left him in (which was a smart move), and Cruz was able to record his first career save, with some help from his defense.

The Yankee offense did just enough to score enough runs to win the game and sweep the series. The Yankees left their fair share of runners on base, but in the third inning, Volpe had one of the biggest hits he has had in a few weeks, with a two-out, two-run double to give the Yankees the lead at the time.

In the fourth inning, in a similar spot, Cody Bellinger finally came through with a two-out RBI double. I am not worried about Bellinger, I think he will break out of his season-opening slump soon because his defense has been spectacular.

Then, Aaron Judge, who is batting .409, came up in a big spot and delivered a big hit, in the most Judgian fashion:

It was his first homer in 10 games, and the Yankees are now 5-0 when Judge homers in a game.

Judge has had an unbelievable start to the season. He has been nothing short of amazing to watch so far. Heading to Tampa, he might go off on a Homer tear in the launchpad in Tampa this weekend. When asked about his performance last night, Aaron Judge said:

(SNY Yankees):
”We're getting there. If they leave it in the zone, try to take a good swing on it, try to use the whole field. We're getting there.”

When Manager Aaron Boone was asked about Judge’s performance, Boone said:

(YES Network):
”Honestly, tonight was the most locked in, I felt, at-bat wise, where he was just on everything. Bubic is tough, and I felt like he was just seeing it well and on everything. And then all the way to the homer, just Schreiber, he's in there to get righties, and specifically for Judge there. Just to get that ball in the air that way like that on a cold night is just... Well, he intentionally walked, so three really impressive at bats.”

Safe to say that everyone is impressed with his performance so far this season, and Judge STILL thinks there’s room for improvement.

The Yankees will begin a four-game set in Tampa, facing the Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

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