Judge 4 Hits & Rice Grand Slam Propel Yanks. NY 12 A’s 2

May 12, 2025 paperbacklou 2025 0
Ben Rice Grand Slam.

Aaron Judge went 4-5 with a tremendous catch in right, and Ben Rice hit a Grand Slam to propel the Yanks to a 12-2 bludgeoning of Luis Severino and the Homeless Athletics in West Sacramento on a Sunday afternoon — Mother’s Day.

Judge raised his MLB-leading batting average to .409, with a .494 OBP.

The game was over by the 5th inning, as the Yanks scored 5 in the 2nd inning off Severino, and poured on 5 more in the 5th to take an 11-1 lead. Revenge for the tough, 11-7 loss the day before when NY blew a 6-4 lead in the 7th and got plastered 11-7.

Ryan Yarbrough opened for the Yanks and was allowed by manager Aaron Boone to go 5 innings and get the win — as compared to his last ‘opening’ when Boone pulled him after 4.1 innings despite Yarbrough wanting to go 5 in a 1-1 tie. So Yarbrough kind of actually was the starting pitcher.

“We’ve had our share of tough losses to start the year, and I feel that at every turn we’ve really bounced back well the next day,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards. “That’s a tribute to these guys and their makeup — it’s the grind; keep turning the page.”

NY improves to 23-17, in 1st in the AL East by 2 games over Boston. Oakland falls to 21-20.

1. Yanks Explode on Severino in 2nd

Luis Severino pitched a 1-2-3 shutout 1st inning, striking out Aaron Judge. It would be his last hurrah of the day. And Judge’s last faux pas.

Paul Goldschmidt led off the 2nd with a double, Jasson Dominguez walked, and Anthony Volpe singled to left for a run. Yankees 1 A’s 0.

Next batter Austin Wells singled, and Oswaldo Cabrera walked with bases loaded, scoring a run. Yankees 2 A’s 0.

Jorbit Vivas grounded out, scoring another run, making it 3-0 NY, and Ben Rice was hit by a pitch — again loading the bases.

Up stepped Aaron Judge, who singled to right for 2 more runs for a 5-0 Yankee lead.

2. Oswaldo Makes It 6-0 in 3rd

In the 3rd, Jasson Dominguez led of with a single, and with 2 outs, Oswaldo Cabrera doubled to left for a 4-0 Yankee lead.

3. Rice Grand Slam Makes It 11-1 in 5th

Severino managed to throw a shutout 4th, pitching around a 1-out double to Aaron Judge.

But in the 5th, Jasson Dominguez — red hot — singled to lead off, next batter Anthony Volpe — also red hot — singled — and Severino was yanked, with Mitch Spence coming in to pitch.

Spence hit Austin Wells with a pitch to load the bases but then got tough — getting Cabrera to ground out into a force at home, and striking out Jorbit Vivas.

But Ben Rice ripped a 398-foot Grand Slam to right for a 10-1 Yankee lead.

The Yanks weren’t through with Spence in the inning — Aaron Judge singled to right, Cody Bellinger singled to right, and Paul Goldschmidt doubled to left for another run. NY 11 A’s 1.

4. Yarbrough Great

Meanwhile Ryan Yarbrough was terrific again. He wasn’t announced as ‘opener’ until a few hours before game time — but pitched a shutout into the 4th.

He threw down a 1-2-3 inning in the 1st, got a double play to erase a leadoff single by Shea Langeliers in the 2nd, and allowed but a 2-out walk in the 3rd.

By the bottom of the 4th the Yanks were up 6-0. Yarbrough allowed leadoff singles by Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom, and then a 1-out RBI single to old friend Miguel Andujar to make it a 6-1 game.

But he got a ground out and fly out to end the 4th.

5. Judge 4 Hits and DEFENSE Helps Yarbrough Get Win

Judge not only got 4 hits on the day but made a sparkling, diving catch in the the 5th to help save Yarbrough’s win.

Up 11-1, the Yanks sent Yarbrough back out for the bottom of the 5th for the win. He allowed a leadoff HR to JJ Bleday and a single to Gio Urshela, and then a liner to right by Jacob Wilson that Aaron Judge made a sparkling, diving catch on — possibly saving Yarbrough from being yanked.

Yarbrough then struck out Brent Rooker and got Tyler Soderstrom to ground out to end the inning and put himself in line for the win.

Yarbrough’s line: 5 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 K’s, 1 walk in 67 pitches. He wins to go 1-0 3.70.

6. Goldy Makes It 12-2 in 7th

Ben Rice was hit by a pitch for the 2nd time in the game leading off the 7th against Elvis Alvarado. Aaron Judge followed with his 4th hit — a single to left — and after Bellinger struck out, Paul Goldschmidt hit a ground-rule double to right center for a 12-2 Yankee lead.

7. De Los Santos 3 Shutout Innings

More good news for the Yanks — Yerry De Los Santos continues to look good. The 27-year-old, 6’2 right hander pitched shutout ball for the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings. His line: 3 IP 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 K, 2 walks. His ERA is at 1.29.

8. Matzek Wraps Up

And 34-year-old, 6’4 lefty Tyler Matzek — who has become a mainstay of the Yankee bullpen recently — wrapped up with a shutout 9th for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401764539

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