Schmidt leads Yankees to shutout win in Anaheim to set up dream series

The New York Yankees (35-20) earned their 35th win of the 2025 Major League Baseball season with a narrow 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels (25-30) at Angel Stadium, sealing the three-game series thanks to an outstanding performance from their pitching staff.

Clarke Schmidt picked up his second win of the year, while Mark Leiter Jr. – now firmly established as the Yankees’ go-to closer – notched his second save with a spectacular ninth inning.

New York opened the scoring in the top of the first when Anthony Volpe brought home Paul Goldschmidt with a sacrifice fly off Yusei Kikuchi. The Yankees’ shortstop sent the ball into center field, where Chris Taylor made the catch, but Goldschmidt tagged up and crossed the plate. The Yankees later loaded the bases but couldn’t extend the lead, as the Angels managed to escape the inning without further damage.

From there, Schmidt took control. The Yankees starter threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits, striking out four, and walking just one batter. Ian Hamilton and Tim Hill followed with flawless seventh and eighth innings, helped along by strong defense.

Kikuchi recovered after the rocky first and held the Yankees scoreless over his next four innings, setting up a solid bullpen effort from Robert Stephenson and Ryan Zeferjahn, who each struck out two in the sixth and seventh. Reid Detmers handled the eighth with authority, striking out Cody Bellinger, Jasson Domínguez, and DJ LeMahieu in order.

The Angels had one last shot in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and Jorge Soler on first, Logan O’Hoppe stepped to the plate as the potential hero. But Leiter Jr. held firm, striking out the designated hitter to record the final out and preserve the Yankees’ shutout win.

What’s next for the Yankees?

The Bronx Bombers will stay on the West Coast for a marquee weekend showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The first of the three games at Dodger Stadium is set for Friday, May 30, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET (8:10 p.m. CT / 7:10 p.m. PT).

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