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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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’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.
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.