About Last Night: Yanks Win 5-2

by Paul Semendinger

May 21, 2025

***

Last night the Yankees opened their home series against the Texas Rangers. They won the game 5-2 improving their record to 28-19. In the American league, only the Tigers have a better record than the Yankees.

Quick Stats:

WP - Will Warren

SV - Luke Weaver

Ben Rice, HR, 2 RBI

Aaron Judge, 2 hits, HR, 2 RBI... still batting over .400 (.403)

The Yankees' pitchers struck out 14 Rangers batters.

The Game Story:

Will Warren was terrific. He pitched into the 6th inning. He struck out a career high 10 batters. Through the first five innings, Warren never allowed more than one base runner in an inning. In the sixth, with the help of Mark Leiter, Jr., he (they) worked out of a bases loaded, one out situation.

The Yankees' bullpen, outside of Ian Hamilton who allowed two runs on a homer and then followed that by allowing a triple, was great. Devin Williams worked around a one out double in the eighth. He had two strikeouts.

The Yankees scored first on a Ben Rice homer into the second deck in the second inning. (Yankees 1, Rangers 0)

The Yanks scored again following hits by Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger followed by a Ben Rice sacrifice fly that could have been an extra base hit if not for a fine defensive play by Sam Haggerty in center field.

(Yankees 2, Rangers 0)

In the bottom of the sixth, Anthony Volpe doubled home Paul Goldschmidt who had walked.

(Yankees 3, Rangers 0)

In the bottom of the eighth, Trent Grisham singled and Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer.

(Yankees 5, Rangers 0)

As noted, the Rangers got two runs off Ian Hamilton on a homer by Jonah Heim.

(Yankees 5, Rangers 2)

Player of the Game:

Will Warren: 5.2 ip, 10 strikeouts, 5 hits, 1 walk, 0 runs

My Takes:

The Yankees are rolling. Things really seem to be falling into place. Since May 6, they are 9-3. That is terrific. They're playing good, high-quality baseball. This team has been fun to watch.

Aaron Judge hit his 16th home run of the season. It just went over the right field wall. It is being said that that was Judge's shortest homer of his career. They all count the same.

Aaron Judge now has 759 career runs batted in. That's good enough for 20th on the all-time list. He just knocked Roy White (758 rbi's) to 21st. Following his career, Roy White has now been passed on that list by Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Don Mattingly, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Paul O'Neill, Graig Nettles, Robinson Cano, Dave Winfield, and Aaron Judge.

With two hits, Aaron Judge, remarkably, is still batting over .400. Judge is on pace to accumulate 13.4 WAR this second. That total would be second all-time in Yankees' history. Babe Ruth had a 14.1 WAR season in 1923 and a 12.8 WAR season in 1921. We are watching greatness. This is proven night after night after night.

Will Warren last three games:

• May 9: 7.1 innings, 1 earned run

• May 14: 5 innings, 2 earned runs

• May 20: 6.2 innings, 0 earned runs.

Will Warren is pitching better and better. He has answered the call and has been as solid as any starter on the team over his last three starts.

It's fun watching the Yankees win.

Next Up:

The Yankees play the Rangers again tonight. Ryan Yarbrough takes the hill at 7:05 p.m.