CLEVELAND — The Yankees have made a habit of playing close games early on this season, including the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader when their bullpen had to walk a tightrope for a one-run win over the Guardians.
But they turned on cruise control in the nightcap.
After Oswaldo Cabrera’s two-run homer lifted them to a 3-2 win in Game 1, the Yankees scored early and often in Game 2 to support an impressive spot start from right-hander Cody Poteet for an 8-2 win, sweeping the doubleheader at Progressive Field.
With the sweep of the Guardians (9-5), the Yankees improved to 12-3, matching the best start in franchise history through 15 games.
They have done it six other times, the most recent one coming in 2003.
They also clinched their fifth straight series win to begin the year, the third time they have done so in team history.
Juan Soto delivered a three-run homer to help break the nightcap open in the fourth inning and Cabrera added an RBI double in the fifth to cap off another strong day at the plate as he takes over everyday third base duties with Jon Berti landing on the IL.
It was more than enough offense for Poteet, who was called up from Triple-A as the 27th man for his first big league action since July 16, 2022 — one month before he underwent Tommy John surgery.
The 29-year-old right-hander, whom the Yankees signed to a major league deal in January, turned in six strong innings of one-run ball in which he struck out four and walked none.
Former Yankee Estevan Florial — who struck out looking at a 3-2 pitch out of the zone from Clay Holmes in the ninth inning of Game 1 — broke up Poteet’s shutout with a solo home run in the fifth inning.
But that was all the Guardians could muster off of him.
The Yankees set the tone for the Game 2 win in the first inning, when each of their first five hitters reached base (three walks, one hit and one fielder’s choice with an error) against Triston McKenzie as they took a 2-0 lead.
Then with two outs and two on in the fourth, Anthony Volpe stayed hot in the leadoff spot by lining an RBI single up the middle.
That kept the inning alive for Soto, who got the green light on a 3-0 count and crushed a three-run shot to center field to make it 6-0.
