CLEVELAND — In a thrilling matchup, José Ramírez powered the Cleveland Guardians to a 6-4 victory over the New York Yankees, known for their American League dominance, on Monday evening. Ramírez’s three-run home run and a subsequent solo homer from Kyle Manzardo, delivered consecutive pitches in the third inning, marked a turning point against Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt.
Ramírez and Manzardo both sent the ball soaring over the right-field fence against Schmidt, who encountered difficulties throughout his four-inning stint, conceding five runs. Notably, Manzardo is riding a hot streak, having homered in his last three consecutive games, securing his position as the team’s top slugger with seven home runs this season.
Cleveland surged ahead to a commanding 6-0 lead before the Yankees began a late-game rally. Jasson Domínguez energized the comeback with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Jazz Chisholm Jr., breaking free from a slump where he managed only one hit in 18 at-bats, launched a two-run shot in the eighth inning. Despite these efforts, the Yankees faltered with runners in scoring positions, going 0 for 5.
Facing Cleveland for the first time since their triumph in last year’s AL Championship Series, the Yankees tasted defeat for only the second time in their last eight games. Aaron Judge, maintaining his impressive form, extended his streak of reaching base to 19 games, finishing the night with one hit and a walk. Yet, he struck out against Cade Smith with a potential scoring opportunity, a runner on second, sealing the game for the Guardians.
On the pitching side, Cleveland’s Gavin Williams earned his second season win, pitching 6 1/3 innings and allowing two runs from seven hits. This victory marked his first against a team from the AL East across his eight career starts. Smith claimed his second career save, efficiently closing the ninth inning for Cleveland.
A pivotal moment unfolded early in the game when Schmidt, after a great start, encountered struggles allowing two home runs. His tough third and fourth innings, which saw the Guardians capitalize with two doubles and three singles, shifted the momentum decisively.
José Ramírez’s achievement of racking up 668 extra-base hits with Cleveland moved him ahead of Hall of Famer Tris Speaker, earning him the second spot on the team’s all-time list, trailing only Earl Averill (724), another Hall of Fame member.
Looking ahead, the Yankees will counter with right-hander Will Warren, who holds a 1-0 record and a 5.17 ERA, as they aim to even the series. The Guardians will rely on Tanner Bibee with a 1-2 record and a 5.85 ERA, as the teams gear up for the second game in their three-game series showdown on Tuesday.