The Yankees can certainly take joy from the fact that two of their players are currently leading in the major leagues in terms of batting average. These pride of the Yankees are Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt, who have been consistently securing hits in the recent Yankees’ 5-1 victory over the Guardians. In the game that took place at Progressive Field, Judge managed 2 out of 4 with an RBI triple, augmenting his average to .415 also increasing his OPS to 1.247. Simultaneously, Goldschmidt, in resemblance to Luis Arraez’s prime, scored 3 out of 5 with two RBIs, escalating his average to .383.
In the opening inning of the game, Judge was inches away from hitting a home run on his career’s sixth three-base hit, provided by Cleveland starter Luis L. Ortiz. Goldschmidt, likewise, was on the cusp of a home run but settled for an RBI double knocking it off the right-center field wall. Shortly after Ben Rice collected his own RBI, Goldschmidt furthered the Yankees’ score with an RBI single in the second inning.
Goldschmidt could have added another RBI to his name with a double in the sixth inning; unfortunately, Cody Bellinger got out at the plate while attempting a score from the first base. The total score of the Yankees was elevated with a double from Austin Wells in the seventh inning. Despite the Yankees scoring five runs, there were opportunities for further damage in the series finale on Wednesday.
The Yankees managed to hit 5 for 18 with engaged runners and left 13 players on base. The game didn’t go well for Anthony Volpe who encountered a golden sombrero by striking out four times. The shortstop, in his third year, has been battling difficult times after the peak in his opening season; he commenced Wednesday’s game with a 43 wRC+ after April 7 and is currently gripping a .198 hit rate.
Amid Volpe’s forgettable day at the batting plate, the day brought immense satisfaction for Carlos Rodón. After holding the Rays scoreless for his latest six innings, he registered his best outing of the year by restricting the Guardians to zero earned runs in seven innings. Gabriel Arias of Cleveland scored against Rodón in the first inning, but only subsequent to Bellinger’s error to a José Ramírez single.
In the course of the game, Rodón managed to limit himself to a couple of walks – an aspect that has significantly troubled him in the past – while registering eight strikeouts. Over his 90 pitches, he let four successful hits come off. Despite the initial error, Bellinger redeemed himself with an excellent over-the-shoulder catch to conclude the game.
The ball that declared the end of the game was one of the three warning-track shots dispatched to Luke Weaver in the ninth by the Guardians. Despite their powerful hits, no runs were brought home by them. These developments in play brought the Yankees back to their winning ways.
With the win under their belt, the Yankees have the following day off. Their next assignment is hosting the Blue Jays in a three-game series over the weekend in the Bronx. With the Yankees’ squad, Carlos Carrasco, Max Fried, and Clarke Schmidt are set to start in those games.
The opposing Blue Jays have José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt as their likely pitchers. Both teams are gearing up in preparation for this thrilling encounter, with high expectations attached to each player. The weekend series promises to be an exciting spectacle of high-performing batting averages, outstanding pitching, and keen competition.
The Yankees will be counting on their leading duo, Judge and Goldschmidt, to maintain their excellent form and scoring prowess. Their ability to consistently secure hits and score high in the batting average has become a backbone for the team, and they will certainly be under the spotlight in the upcoming games.
Meanwhile, the shortstop Volpe would be hoping to turn things around after a series of strike-outs in recent times. Players hitting a rough patch, such as him, will be under pressure to work on their swing mechanics and timing, and make a comeback stronger than ever.
The performance of Carlos Rodón has also been a positive take-away for the Yankees. His recent form has shown marked improvement and he has proven to be a tough obstacle for the opposing teams’ batters. His consistent pitching form plays a huge role in the game dynamics.
One cannot help but mention the outstanding over-the-shoulder catch by Bellinger, which put the perfect end to the game for the Yankees. Such defensive play also plays a significant role in determining the course of the game. Indeed, the upcoming series will be equally reliant on good defense and strategic play.
Certainly, the Yankees’ recent win has provided them with the momentum they required. The upcoming series would test whether they can maintain this winning streak and deliver under the pressure. The upcoming Blue Jays challenge will test their skillset and spirit to the limit.