About Last Night: Yanks Shutout Angels

by Paul Semendinger

May 29, 2025

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Last night the Yankees went for the series sweep against the Angels. They scored a single run in the first inning and won 1-0.

Quick Stats:

• Clarke Schmidt: 6ip, 0 runs, 4 strikeouts, 4 hits (WIN)

• Ian Hamilton: 1.2 ip, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs

• Tim Hill: .1 ip, 0 hits, 0 runs

• Mark Leiter, Jr.: 1 ip, 0 runs, 2 strikeouts (SAVE)

• Paul Goldschmidt: 2-for-4, BB, run

• Aaron Judge: 0-for-2, 2 IBB

• Trent Grisham: 2-for-5

The Game Story:

The Yankees scored one run in the top of the first, but it should have been more. Paul Goldschmidt doubled. Trent Grisham then struck out. Aaron Judge was intentionally walked (really?!) and Cody Bellinger then loaded the bases by walking himself. Anthony Volpe came up, and on a 2-0 pitch, hit a sacrifice fly. Volpe hit the ball well, but, there are times to take a pitch or two, and that was one of those times. Jasson Dominguez then had an infield single. DJ LeMahieu and his .206 batting average came up. D.J., supposedly a smart hitter, didn't act so smart. With a pitcher battling control issues, he swung at the first pitch and flied out lazily to centerfield.

I understand why the Angels walked Aaron Judge, but walking aguy in the first inning is just bad baseball. It's bad for the game. It speaks. loudly, to how much confidence the manager has in his own team ("Guys, I don't think you can score two runs.") The Angels are under .500. They've been terrible for years. They're in second to last place. They're going nowhere. Pitch to the guy. It's the first inning for crying out loud. (NOTE - It tuns out, they couldn't even score one run.)

I know many disagree with me, but Anthony Volpe gets too swing happy at times when he shouldn't be swinging. Yes, the sac fly scored a run, but it was also the second out of the inning. It helped make the Yankees less likely to have a big inning.

The Yankees loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning. Paul Goldschmidt had walked. Trent Grisham then doubled to put runners on second and third - so they intentionally walked Judge AGAIN???!!! Come on, play the game Angels. Cody Bellinger got to 3-0 before popping out to left field to end the "threat."

The Yankees loaded the bases in each of the first two innings and scored only one run. That's not good enough.

Of course, in a game I hoped would go quickly, the first two innings dragged along at a snail's pace. It took 43 minutes to get through just the first two innings.

D.J. LeMahieu's batting average is down to .184. At what point do the Yankees face reality and admit that it's over for DJ? He will be 37 in July. He looks old. He plays old. He has no more power. In four of the last five seasons, his OPS+ has been below league average. The writing is on the wall and has been for a long time.

Aaron Judge came up in the fifth inning and they finally pitched to him. He flew out. Babe Ruth would have homered there.

Clarke Schmidt had a few struggles early and then settled down and pitched into the . The Yankees bullpen was short last night and they needed innings from Clarke Schmidt. He gave them six innings allowing no runs. Seven innings would have been nicer, but he was the player of the game. His ERA for the season has now dipped under 4.00 (3.95).

Judge came up in the seventh inning. They pitched to him again. He struck out. Lou Gehrig would have tripled there. During the at bat they showed a replay of Ron Washington, the Angels manager, spitting. That's high quality TV right there.

Not much happened in the game. It was a pitcher's duel. It wasn't exciting baseball, but after the second inning, the game moved quickly. I was thankful for that.

Ian Hamilton pitched a great seventh inning, retiring the side in order. He was brought out for the eighth inning and gave up a single before getting an out on a sacrifice bunt and then an out on a flyout to left-center. Tim Hill then came in and got a ground out to end the inning.

The Yankees offense took the night off. 13 batters struck out. They managed only one run. They had only 7 hits.

Mark Leiter, Jr. was brought in for the save. He walked a batter with two outs, but then got the final strikeout to close it out.

Player of the Game:

Clarke Schmidt - 6 shutout innings. He delivered.

My Thoughts:

This was the penultimate late late late game of the season. The Yankees game tomorrow begins a half hour later, in Los Angeles, against the Dodgers. The last two games in L.A. are at 7:00 p.m. which is much more manageable. I am thrilled the late late late games are ending.

Watching these games, I feel like Ralph Kramden when he first got a TV, trying to stay awake as my eyes close. It could be the greatest game in the world, I'll still fall asleep.

I hate west coast games. Always have.

I know people think I'm unreasonable about these late games, but I do have a solution. Make the games "sudden death." Begin each inning with the extra innings rule. Put a man on second base. The game ends just like extra innings games do. Who cares if the games last only one inning? At least they'd be over way before midnight. Or, play five innings games. That could work.

Rumors are the the Yankees will play Jazz Chisholm at third base when he returns from the IL. His strength is at second base. That is where he should play. One big concern for Yankees fans is that Aaron Boone defers to his veterans, even when they can no longer do the job. To move Jazz Chisholm to accomodate DJ LeMahieu is, simply, a terrible baseball decision. Keep the young kid where he plays best, at second. If LeMahieu can no longer handle third, well, it's time to cut him. It's not like he's hitting and he hasn't hit for years. Do not be surprised if the Yankees make similar bad decisions when Giancarlo Stanton returns. The Yankees have won a lot in 2025 in part because they've become more athletic. Putting players like LeMahieu and Stanton into the lineup, and moving players to allow them to play hurts the team overall. This is obvious on its face.

Next Up:

The Yankees play at 10:10 p.m. Max Fried will start the first of three games against the L.A. Dodgers. Will this be a 2025 World Series preview?