Yankees Salvage Finale
McMahon's RBI Single in 7th Lifts Yankees to 2-1 Win, Avoiding Guardians Sweep
The New York Yankees avoided a three-game sweep by the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, winning 2-1 behind a clutch seventh-inning RBI single from Ryan McMahon. The victory moves New York to 37-25 on the season, keeping them within two games of the AL East lead, according to Yahoo Sports.
Carlos Rodón was the story on the mound. The left-hander threw six innings, gave up just two hits and one run, and struck out seven batters. His ERA now sits at 2.88, the lowest among Yankees starters with at least 10 starts, per MLB.com.
McMahon's Seventh-Inning Single Breaks the Tie
The Yankees trailed 1-0 entering the seventh inning. Jazz Chisholm Jr. drew a walk, stole second base — his 15th steal of the season — and moved to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Ryan McMahon lined a single to right field, scoring Chisholm and giving New York a 2-1 lead, according to The Hour.
McMahon has struggled in 2026, batting just .205 for much of the first half. Critics have questioned his roster spot and pointed to the $70 million remaining on his contract through 2027. But his go-ahead hit Wednesday offered what analysts called a "clutch resurgence" for the embattled third baseman, per ABC10.
Rodón Shuts Down Cleveland Without Aaron Judge in Lineup
Aaron Judge missed his third straight game with a bone bruise in his upper right rib cage. Manager Aaron Boone said before the game, "We just want clarity on exactly what we're dealing with." A CT scan and additional imaging were ordered. Judge suffered a stress fracture in the same rib area back in March 2020, raising concern about the current injury, per WLTX.
Rodón filled the void by dominating Cleveland's lineup with only 2 hits allowed in 6.0 innings. Closer David Bednar then retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 13th save of the season. The Yankees held Cleveland to just 2 hits total across all 9 innings, according to LMT Online.
Guardians' Offense Fails Cecconi in Tight Loss
Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi pitched 6.0 strong innings, giving up just 1 run on 4 hits. But his team gave him almost nothing to work with. The only Cleveland run came in the fourth inning, when José Ramírez singled, stole his 22nd base of the season, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Stuart Fairchild, per THV11.
Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt was frustrated after the game, noting his offense was "limited to just two hits all afternoon." Despite the loss, the Guardians remain 36-28 and hold a 2.5-game lead in the AL Central. The missed sweep, however, leaves New York very much alive in the pennant race.
Judge's Rib Injury Clouds Yankees' Road Ahead
The Yankees now face a critical stretch starting June 5 with a three-game series against the rival Boston Red Sox. If Judge is placed on the injured list, the team may need to call up outfielder Jasson Domínguez or pursue a trade ahead of the July deadline, according to The Hour.
New York has won 7 of their last 10 games despite the injury concerns. But analysts at ABC10 warn that the offense remains "stagnant" without Judge and that the pitching staff is carrying too heavy a load for a quiet lineup to sustain deep into the summer.
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