The Yankees kicked off the 2025 season in style with a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day. In front of a packed Yankee Stadium crowd of 46,208 fans, the Yankees showcased a combination of power hitting, solid pitching, and clutch performances to secure their first win of the season.
Emotional Moment Before First Pitch
Before the game, the Yankees held a moment of silence to honor Miller Gardner, the 14-year-old son of former Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner, who tragically passed away during a family vacation in Costa Rica last week. The tribute was a touching moment for a tragedy that resonated deeply with the Yankees organization and its fan base, many of whom still hold Gardner in high regard for his contributions to the team from 2008-2021.
Wells Makes History with Leadoff Blast
After a quick scoreless first inning from starter Carlos Rodón, the game started with a bang as Yankees catcher Austin Wells became the first catcher in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day. Facing Brewers’ starter Freddy Peralta, Wells launched a 416-foot shot into the right-field stands, electrifying the crowd and giving the Yankees an early 1-0 lead. Wells’ milestone was particularly significant as it marked the first time a Yankees catcher has ever led off a game, adding to the moment’s historical weight.
Volpe, Judge, and Bellinger Extend the Lead
Shortstop Anthony Volpe added to the Yankees’ tally in the second inning, sending another solo home run over the left-field wall off Peralta. Throughout the game, Volpe showed promising early signs of what hopes to be an improved season at the plate.
The Yankees continued to pad their lead in the seventh inning when Aaron Judge roped an RBI double down the left-field line, sending it off the third base bag. Shortly after, the newly acquired Cody Bellinger drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, pushing the score to 4-1 and giving the Yankees a much-needed cushion.
On the Slab in the Boogie Down
Rodón tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters. His performance set the tone for the Yankees’ pitching staff, keeping the Brewers’ offense in check for most of the afternoon. The lone blunder came off the bat of Vinnie Capra as he led off the third with solo shot of his own, smoking a 94.6 mph fastball that Rodón left up over the plate.
The bullpen provided critical support, with reliever Tim Hill escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning to preserve the Yankees’ lead. 2024’s standout, Luke Weaver, picked up right where he left off as he fired a scoreless eighth inning.
New York’s resilience was tested again in the ninth inning when new closer Devin Williams found himself in trouble, loading the bases with no outs. However, Williams impressively bounced back by striking out Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich, securing the save and sealing the Yankees’ first victory of the season.
Things to Monitor
Paul Goldschmidt’s Yankees debut wasn’t great. The 2022 National League MVP went 0-4 with two strikeouts. The bat continues to look slow from his spring showing. He even faced a pair of lefties, which historically been a strength of his offensive game. Hopefully this is a complete overreaction to one bad game and not more of what is to come. Manager Aaron Boone may have just unfolded his plan for the
Yankees outfield late in games when they have a lead. Rookie phenom Jasson Dominguez was pulled for the final two frames as Trent Grisham entered the game in center field, in turn shifting Bellinger to left. Could it be just an experiment until Jasson can improve on his poor defensive showing this spring? Or is this the new go-to strategy moving forward? Time will tell.
Final Thoughts
While it’s only the first game of the season, the Yankees’ performance showcased their potential to be a serious contender this year. With key players stepping up and yet another strong showing from the pitching staff, General Manager Brian Cashman has set a solid foundation for the team. After an off day Friday, New York will look to carry this momentum into their next game against the Brewers on Saturday at 1:05p ET. Max Fried is set to make his Yankee debut, as The Bronx Bombers continue their opening series at home against a familiar face in “Nasty Nestor” Cortes.
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