Aaron Judge Homers in Third Straight Game, Clarke Schmidt Shines as Yankees Top Royals 6-3

by Felix Pantaleón

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The New York Yankees continued their dominance over the Kansas City Royals, securing a 6-3 victory on Wednesday night, thanks to another towering home run from Aaron Judge and a stellar pitching performance from Clarke Schmidt. The win improves the Yankees’ record to 41-25 and keeps them undefeated against the Royals this season at 5-0, with a commanding 12-3 record against Kansas City since the start of last season, including their playoff series triumph.

Judge’s Hot Streak Continues

Aaron Judge, the two-time MVP, homered for the third consecutive game, launching a solo shot off Royals reliever Steven Cruz in the seventh inning. The blast followed a two-homer performance against Boston on Sunday and a massive 469-foot homer in the series opener against Kansas City on Tuesday. Judge’s recent surge has seen him rack up eight RBIs over the past three games, boosting his season totals to 25 home runs and 59 RBIs. His .394 batting average, .490 on-base percentage, and 1.269 OPS underscore his status as one of baseball’s most feared hitters.

HR No. 25 for No. 99 👨‍⚖️#AllRise pic.twitter.com/DStaM51pfZ
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 12, 2025

Schmidt Shines on the Mound

Clarke Schmidt (3-3) delivered a masterful performance, allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings while striking out seven. The right-hander was nearly untouchable, with the only runner reaching second base coming via his own balk in the first inning. Schmidt’s dominance extended his unbeaten streak against the Royals to six regular-season appearances. Relief pitchers Brent Headrick, Fernando Cruz, and Devin Williams (who earned his eighth save) helped close out the game, though Mark Leiter struggled in the ninth, allowing three runs, including a two-run homer by Salvador Perez.

Explosive Second Inning Sets the Tone

The Yankees erupted for five runs in the second inning, capitalizing on a shaky outing from Royals starter Kris Bubic (5-4). The inning began with Cody Bellinger’s triple to deep right-center, followed by a walk to Jazz Chisholm, who later left the game with left groin tightness. A controversial ball call on what could have been a third strike to Chisholm kept the inning alive, and the Yankees made the Royals pay. Anthony Volpe’s fielder’s choice scored Bellinger, and Austin Wells doubled to drive in Volpe and DJ LeMahieu, who had walked. Paul Goldschmidt capped the rally with a two-run single, and Ben Rice added an RBI single, giving New York a commanding 5-0 lead.

Bubic struggled through 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six hits, four walks, and five earned runs while throwing 97 pitches. The Royals’ bullpen, including Jonathan Bowlan, Steven Cruz, Daniel Lynch, and Angel Zerpa, managed to limit further damage, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Royals’ Late Rally Falls Short

The Royals (34-34) showed signs of life in the ninth inning, scoring three runs off Yankees reliever Mark Leiter. Vinnie Pasquantino led off with a single, and Salvador Perez crushed a two-run homer to left, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Nick Loftin reached on an infield single, and John Rave’s single, combined with a throwing error by Leiter, allowed Loftin to score. However, Devin Williams came in to secure the final two outs, preserving the Yankees’ victory.

Perez’s homer was a rare bright spot for Kansas City, who have struggled recently, going 10-18 after a strong 16-2 run in April and May. Jonathan India contributed with a double and a single, but the Royals’ offense couldn’t muster enough against Schmidt and the Yankees’ bullpen.

Defensive Highlight of the Night

The Royals’ best moment in the field came in the fifth inning when the Yankees loaded the bases with one out. DJ LeMahieu hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Maikel Garcia, who fielded it while falling to the ground. Garcia threw to second from his backside, and Jonathan India’s relay to first baseman Joey Caglianone completed a spectacular inning-ending double play, preventing the Yankees from extending their lead.

Key Performances

Aaron Judge (NYY): 1-for-4, HR, RBI, BB, 2 SB, .394/.490/.779
Paul Goldschmidt (NYY): 2-for-5, 2 RBI, .312/.367/.457
Clarke Schmidt (NYY): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO, 3.60 ERA
Salvador Perez (KC): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, .233/.270/.368
Jonathan India (KC): 2-for-4, 2B, BB, .252/.337/.342

Injury Concern for Chisholm

Jazz Chisholm’s exit in the fifth inning due to left groin tightness raised concerns for the Yankees. The third baseman, who walked twice in the game, was replaced by Oswald Peraza. Manager Aaron Boone indicated postgame that Chisholm would be evaluated further, but no immediate update on his status was provided.

Looking Ahead

The series concludes Thursday night with the Yankees sending right-hander Will Warren (4-3, 5.34 ERA) to the mound against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (3-5, 3.46 ERA). New York will aim to complete the sweep and continue their strong play against Kansas City, while the Royals hope to salvage a game and regain momentum after a lackluster stretch.