About Last Night: Yankees 3, Guardians 2
- Tamar Chalker
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
About Last Night: Yankees 3, Guardians 2
by Tamar Chalker
June 4, 2025
***
Jazz Chisholm, Jr. missed the month of May with a right oblique strain, but made a statement in his return to the Yankees lineup Tuesday night. Facing Cleveland in their return home, the Yankees took back-to-back homers from Chisholm and Anthony Volpe to propel them to a 3-2 victory.
Quick Stats:
Carlos Rodón - Rodón went seven innings and scattered five hits for one run scored. He struck out eight and walked just one. He earned the win.
Tanner Bibee - The Guardians' starter went 6.1 innings and gave up three runs on four hits, including two homers, and two walks.
Devin Williams - Throwing the ninth inning for the Yankees, Williams gave up two hits, resulting in a run, before securing the save. He struck one batter out.
Player of the Game:
Carlos Rodón continues to be a much-needed stalwart in the Yankees' rotation. In another dominant performance, he struck out eight and now has an 8-3 record with a 2.49 ERA after thirteen appearances.
Notable Performances:
Jazz Chisholm, Jr made his return at the hot corner. Not only was it good to have him back on defense, but Jazz went 2-3 with two runs scored and a home run. With the game tied in the late innings, his homer gave the Yankees a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Anthony Volpe followed Jazz with a solo homer of his own in the eighth inning, which ended up being the deciding run.
Devin Williams still struggled some in the ninth, but he escaped with the save and looked more confident than he did in his first return to closing last week.
Better to Forget:
Paul Goldschmidt had the rare off day, going 0-4 and striking out twice.
My Take:
Honestly, I think this was a good start to this homestand for the Yankees. While their West Coast trip had its highs (sweeping the Angels) and its lows (I won't mention that game), it was good to see them come through with a solid win against a decent Cleveland team. Rodón continues to come up with knockout starts that put the Yankees in prime position for a win, and this was just another example.
When the Yankees traded for Chisholm last season, I was torn because I didn't think he fit an urgent need, but I've always enjoyed watching him. His return to the lineup on Tuesday reminded me of why I love him and am excited to have him in pinstripes. He brings a refreshing excitement to the lineup, and his energy is infectious. I was happy to see him back in general on Tuesday, however, his late-inning homer was the icing on the cake.
Next Up:
The Yankees continue their series against Cleveland tonight. Clarke Schmidt will make the start for the Yankees. He has gone 2-2 in eight starts with a 3.95 ERA and 42 Ks. Cleveland will send Luis Ortiz to the mound. He is 2-6 with a 4.40 ERA in eleven starts. Opposing batters are hitting .240 off of Ortiz, who has 64 Ks and 30 walks this season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm in the Bronx.
Williams should be expected to pitch ~57 innings this season.
thus far, he has pitched 22
and has not been all that effective or all that good
or even all that steady.
last night, it has been noted, he looked fairly nervous, especially after Santana clubbed a too-high fastball for a double.
Williams is a two-pitch pitcher, and, for reasons unknown, began the season seemingly unable to control his fastball.
without control of his fastball, he has little value to the Yankees or any team
with his fastball, his history is a good un.
he'll strike out a lot of batters
walk a few, give up a few hits, maybe even a run.
he fersure has not been the flawless,…
I have not been impressed with Williams, at all. I thought his expressions and his body language indicated that he had no confidence at all last night.
That being said...
Unless there is something physically wrong with him, I believe that he will be able to handle the 9th inning. He's done it before. Goose Gossage struggled as a closer when he first arrived. He figured it out. It is my believe (hope?) that Devin Williams will as well.
Weaver's absence is going to be significant. Williams, despite the support from boone, can't be trusted to throw the 9th. Leave him in set up, use combo of loaisiga cruz and hill.
The front office got lucky with Luke Weaver last year, too bad despite Beeter and Reyzelman in the AAA bullpen, the Development Group Pucked up again. Both could be trained as a Closer there but aren't. Something is clearly wrong with Devin Williams. He would not be the first guy who couldn't handle pitching in pressure in the pinstripes. Where's Adam Warren when you need him? The one guy who pitched better in pinstripes then he did anywhere else he ever went. Hopefully Williams, the guy who ended up being the one who finally pushed Hal to let beards in, will settle in, if not he's simply costing himself some money in his walk year.