Oswaldo Cabrera homers, Yankees survive late scare, beat Guardians 3-2 to match club's best start

New York Yankees’ Oswaldo Cabrera is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Nick Sandlin in the sixth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run homer and the New York Yankees survived a scare in the ninth inning to beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 in the first game of a split doubleheader on Saturday and match the best start in their famed history.

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Will Brennan watches as a home run ball hit by New York Yankees’ Oswaldo Cabrera bounces out of the stands in the sixth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

The Yankees improved to an MLB-best 11-3 — 7-1 on the road — and equaled their best record through 14 games. They’ve been 11-3 in 11 other seasons, most recently 2010.

New York starter Clarke Schmidt (1-0) allowed just one run over five-plus innings before manager Aaron Boone turned to his solid bullpen. Caleb Ferguson pitched one inning, Ian Hamilton went two and Boone brought in closer Clay Holmes for the ninth.

Holmes gave up a leadoff double to Ramon Laureano before striking out two — he got a favorable called third strike on a 3-2 pitch to former top Yankees prospect Estevan Florial for the second out — and getting a groundout for his sixth save in seven tries.

“Clay always makes it interesting,” joked Schmidt. “But he always gets the job done.”

Holmes smiled when told about Schmidt’s comment.

“I knew I needed a strikeout or two and that definitely helped me out there,” he said. “Once I got that first one I was feeling good, and I knew I had to make one pitch at a time. That was a good win to hang onto there.”

New York Yankees’ Trent Grisham scores a run in the second inning during the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

The Guardians managed just five hits.

Cabrera, who had not played in New York’s previous three games, connected for his third homer in the sixth off reliever Nick Sandlin to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.

“It’s not easy,” Cabrera said of not being a regular. “You want to play every day, but I’ve been working in the cage just to be ready every time.”

New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes, right, is congratulated by catcher Jose Trevino after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cabrera is likely to get much more playing time after the Yankees placed infielder Jon Berti on the 10-day injured list between games with a groin strain.

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Will Brennan collides with the wall while chasing a double hit by New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

“Cabby is always ready, prepared and had some good at-bats today,” Boone said. “Just another nice job by him in a winning cause.”

The teams were rained out Friday, forcing the doubleheader and delaying New York’s lone visit to Progressive Field this season.

Schmidt worked out of trouble in the fourth and fifth by getting inning-ending double plays.

He gave up two singles to open the sixth and was pulled for Ferguson, who struck out All-Star José Ramírez. After a walk loaded the bases, Ferguson got Tyler Freeman to hit a slow roller up the middle.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt delivers in the first inning during the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres fielded it cleanly and stepped on second for a force, but his relay to first was wild, scoring two runs to pull Cleveland within 3-2.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco delivers during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

“I don’t feel like he rushed or anything and he had a clear path to it,” Boone said. “He’s got to make a good throw, it’s as simple as that.”

Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco (0-1) held the Yankees to just one run in 4 2/3 innings, working around five walks.

It was Carrasco’s first start in Cleveland since 2020, when he faced New York in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series. Following that season, Carrasco was traded to the Mets as part of the blockbuster Francisco Lindor deal.

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge runs to second base after hitting a double during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

“It was really nice pitching back here in Cleveland with the fans, all that kind of stuff,” Carrasco said. “It was really emotional for me.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 3B DJ LeMahieu (broken foot) is “doing really well,” according to Boone and “getting close” to rejoining the club. LeMahieu will have to play in some minor league games before being activated.

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (elbow soreness) will pitch a two-inning simulated game on Monday in Arizona. Williams got hurt while throwing a weighted ball in spring training before a start on March 9. The team initially thought he would only miss a week.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Cody Poteet makes his season and New York debut in Game 2 against Guardians RHP Triston McKenzie (1-1 4.00), who pitched 5 2/3 scoreless inning in Monday’s home opener.

Yankees Guardians Baseball

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Yankees’ Oswaldo Cabrera, center, is congratulated by Jose Trevino after hitting a two-run home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Nick Sandlin in the sixth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge reacts after hitting a single in the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo celebrates after hitting a double in the sixth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Nick Sandlin waits for New York Yankees’ Oswaldo Cabrera to run the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco delivers to New York Yankees batter Anthony Volpe during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt delivers during the first inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)