Carlos Rodón leads Yankees to victory over Guardians

On April 23, 2025, in Cleveland, the New York Yankees faced off against the Cleveland Guardians in the last game of a three-game series. The Yankees emerged victorious with a score of 5-1, largely owing to a stellar pitching performance by Carlos Rodón, who allowed only four hits and struck out five batters over seven innings. This win prevented the Yankees from being swept in the series, a fate they hadn't faced in Cleveland since 1970. Aaron Judge contributed significantly by raising his impressive batting average to .415. The game began with the Yankees' offense making an impact right away. In the first inning, Judge tripled, bringing home Ben Rice, followed by an RBI double from Paul Goldschmidt that doubled their lead. Both Judge and Goldschmidt drove in runs early, allowing the Yankees to establish control from the start. Despite the favorable scoreline, New York struggled at times, stranding a total of 13 runners and accumulating 14 strikeouts throughout the game. In striking contrast, the Guardians halted their impressive winning streak of five games with this loss and fell to a 7-2 record at home as they look ahead to their next series against the Boston Red Sox. The defeat highlighted the Guardians' recent dominance, yet it showcased how competitive the Yankees can be, despite facing setbacks earlier in the season due to numerous injuries to key players. New York's record stood at 15-10 after the game, making them leaders in the American League East as the season progressed. The Yankees had entered the season with high expectations, especially after various offseason moves, but injuries to players like Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, and Gerrit Cole had cast shadows on their plans. Nonetheless, players like Judge and Goldschmidt have emerged as beacons of hope, pushing the Yankees closer to their goal of returning to the World Series after last year's appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers.