Guardians silence Yankees' bats after Clarke Schmidt's early struggles

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News on Jun 4, 2025

Published in Baseball

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NEW YORK — One night after two late homers powered the Yankees to victory, the Bombers’ bats went silent in a 4-0 loss to the Guardians on Wednesday.

The pinstripers mustered just three hits off Cleveland starter Luis L. Ortiz, who put 5 2/3 innings worth of zeros on the board. The young right-hander, leaning on his slider but aided by a sinker and four-seamer, also walked three and struck out seven over 92 pitches.

Ortiz entered the game with a 4.40 ERA, but offense was hard for the Yankees to come by before and after his departure as they fell to the team they thwarted in last year’s American League Championship Series.

The Yanks did have a chance to score in the sixth after Ortiz started the inning with a walk, but two challenges at first base went against them. Another opportunity presented itself in the ninth, but Emmanuel Clase took care of business after two Yankees reached scoring position with one away.

New York totaled five hits and grounded into three double plays in the game, including two from Anthony Volpe.

It didn’t help that Clarke Schmidt put the Yankees in an early hole, as he began the game by walking Steven Kwan before Angel Martínez pulled a two-run homer deep to left. Doubles from José Ramírez and Daniel Schneemann made it a 3-0 contest less than half an inning into the game.

To Schmidt’s credit, he settled in nicely after the first, not surrendering another run over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out eight over 91 pitches.

Now nine starts into his campaign after some nagging spring injuries delayed his season debut, Schmidt has a 4.04 ERA.

While the Yankees’ remained quiet at the plate, the Guardians tacked on another run in the eighth when Kyle Manzardo homered off Fernando Cruz. For Cruz, it was his first appearance since coming off the injured list following shoulder inflammation.

With their series now tied, the Yankees and Guardians will play a rubber match on Thursday night.

Max Fried will give the Yankees an edge in that one. While the ace is coming off his worst start of the season, a loss to the Dodgers, he still has a 1.92 ERA.

Slade Cecconi will throw for Cleveland. With three starts under his belt this season, he owns a 5.28 ERA.