Yankees’ Aaron Judge quiets overreactors as restricted Cam Schlittler shoves in win over Giants
· Yahoo Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — With an Opening Day golden sombrero and an 0-for-7 start to the season, there was plenty of reason to be worried about Aaron Judge.
What had happened to the back-to-back MVP? Who zapped him of his powers? Was his prime coming to an end!?
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats of a long, grueling season. Those disingenuous, engagement-farming folks, including ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith, sounded ridiculous formulating hot takes around the small sample — and that was before Judge launched a 109.1-mph, 405-foot, two-run homer in the Yankees’ 3-0 win over his hometown Giants on Friday.
Judge, who successfully challenged a low strike called against him earlier in the at-bat, his third of the day, gave the sixth-inning blast off Robbie Ray a long look as it sailed to left field. With the ball staying fair – and eliciting an emphatic reaction from Amed Rosario near the Bombers’ bench – the Yankees picked up their first homer of the season and their first runs of the day.
There was more to come in both departments, however, as Giancarlo Stanton took San Francisco reliever José Buttó deep for a solo shot two batters later. Another bomb, the designated hitter’s first homer of the season traveled 414 feet at 108 mph.
With Judge and Stanton each leaving the yard, the Yankees are now 2-0 this season and 53-7 when both of their big boppers homer in the same game.
Also helping the club’s cause on Friday was Cam Schlittler, who was expectedly restricted to 68 pitches after a spring training back/lat injury prevented him from fully building up.
The right-hander made the most of his limited pitch count, opening the game with 10 consecutive strikes during a 1-2-3 first inning. The last came courtesy of Austin Wells, who called for the first successful ABS challenge in Yankees history.
The catcher’s decision resulted in a strikeout for Giants star Rafael Devers, one of eight recorded by Schlittler over 5.1 scoreless innings. The 25-year-old, who burst on to the scene as a rookie in 2025, held the Giants to one hit, a second-inning double from Heliot Ramos, and refused to issue a free pass while tallying 13 whiffs.
The flame-throwing Schlittler also averaged 98.5 mph with his four-seam fastball and maxed out at 100.1 mph, making for an impressive — albeit short — season debut before giving way to a bullpen that didn’t allow any additional hits.
With Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Camilo Doval and David Bednar also blanking the Giants, this is the first time in franchise history that the Yankees have thrown two consecutive shutouts to open a season.
With their first series win also secured, the Yankees will look for a sweep at Oracle Park on Saturday.
Taking the ball for the visitors will be Will Warren, who recently switched his number to 29 to honor his late cousin. The Giants, meanwhile, will turn to Tyler Mahle as they look for their first victory.
_____