Yankees Survive Late Scare, Edge Angels 3-2

In a heart-pounding finish at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on May 28, 2025, the New York Yankees narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-2, thanks to timely home runs from Ben Rice and Oswald Peraza, and a dominant outing from starter Carlos Rodon. However, the game’s defining moment came in the ninth inning, when closer Devin Williams nearly squandered a three-run lead, turning a comfortable victory into a nail-biter that had Yankees fans on edge.

The Rice Cooker 🍚 pic.twitter.com/RWv0WQ94cM

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 28, 2025

Game Recap: Yankees Build a Lead

The game started as a pitcher’s duel, with both Carlos Rodon for the Yankees and Tyler Anderson for the Angels keeping the offenses quiet early. The Yankees struck first in the fourth inning when Ben Rice crushed a solo home run—his 11th of the season—off Anderson to right-center, giving New York a 1-0 lead. The Yankees added another run in the sixth, capitalizing on a fielding error by Angels center fielder Mason Lugo. Cody Bellinger reached base and advanced to third on the miscue, and Anthony Volpe’s single to center brought him home, making it 2-0.

In the seventh, Oswald Peraza provided what seemed like a crucial insurance run with a solo homer off reliever Hector Neris, his third of the season, pushing the lead to 3-0. The Yankees’ offense, limited to six hits, relied on these two long balls and opportunistic baserunning, including a stolen base by Austin Wells, to build their advantage.

Peraza Pop 💥 pic.twitter.com/vU9kc2b6I5

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 28, 2025

Devin Williams’ Ninth-Inning Meltdown

With a 3-0 lead heading into the ninth, the Yankees turned to closer Devin Williams to seal the victory on the road. What followed was a shocking unraveling that nearly cost New York the game. Williams, who entered with a 6.75 ERA and five saves on the season, immediately found trouble. Yoan Moncada led off with a solo home run to center—his fifth of the year—cutting the lead to 3-1. The blast set the tone for a chaotic inning in Anaheim.

Taylor Ward followed with a single to left, and after Travis d’Arnaud flied out, Luis Rengifo singled to center, putting runners on the corners with one out. Jo Adell then hit a fielder’s choice groundout to shortstop, scoring Ward and narrowing the gap to 3-2. With the tying run on base, pinch-hitter Logan O’Hoppe stepped to the plate. Williams, visibly rattled, battled to a full count before inducing a foul out to third, finally ending the game and preserving the Yankees’ slim lead. The save was Williams’ fifth of the season, but his three hits and two earned runs allowed in just one inning raised serious concerns about his reliability as the team’s closer.

Williams’ struggles in the ninth turned a routine victory into a high-stakes drama. His inability to command the zone allowed the Angels to mount a serious threat in front of their home crowd. The inning exposed vulnerabilities in the Yankees’ bullpen, particularly in high-leverage situations, and will likely spark more discussions about Williams’ role moving forward.

Key Performances

Yankees

• Carlos Rodon (W, 7-3): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 SO. Rodon was brilliant, throwing 69 of 105 pitches for strikes and keeping the Angels scoreless through seven innings. His 10 strikeouts were a testament to his dominance on the road.
• Ben Rice: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R. Rice’s fourth-inning homer broke the scoreless tie and set the stage for the Yankees’ lead.
• Oswald Peraza: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB. Peraza’s seventh-inning homer proved critical, providing the margin that held up after Williams’ shaky ninth.
• Devin Williams (S, 5): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO. Williams’ near-collapse in the ninth overshadowed an otherwise strong pitching effort, raising questions about his effectiveness in clutch moments.

Angels

• Yoan Moncada: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R. Moncada’s ninth-inning homer off Williams ignited the Angels’ comeback attempt.
• Jo Adell: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI. Adell’s double in the seventh and fielder’s choice in the ninth kept the Angels alive.
• Nolan Schanuel: 2-for-4. Schanuel was a bright spot, collecting two hits but unable to score at home.
• Tyler Anderson (L, 2-2): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 SO. Anderson pitched well, but the unearned run from Lugo’s error and Rice’s homer were enough to saddle him with the loss.

By the Numbers

The Yankees managed just six hits, with Rice and Peraza’s home runs accounting for two of their three runs. They left 12 runners on base, including five in scoring position, suggesting they could have put the game out of reach earlier. The Angels outhit the Yankees 8-6, with doubles from Adell and d’Arnaud, but their 11 strikeouts and four runners left in scoring position highlighted their offensive struggles against Rodon and Jonathan Loaisiga, who pitched a perfect eighth.

Williams’ ninth-inning performance was the outlier in an otherwise strong pitching effort. His 1.55 WHIP and 6.75 ERA reflect ongoing challenges, and his inability to retire the side cleanly in the ninth put undue pressure on the Yankees’ defense. The Angels’ late surge capitalized on Williams’ lack of command, with Moncada’s homer and the subsequent hits exposing his vulnerability in front of the Anaheim crowd.

Pitching Dominance Overshadowed by Williams’ Wobble

Rodon’s seven scoreless innings were the backbone of the Yankees’ victory, as he struck out 10 and allowed just five hits without issuing a walk. Loaisiga’s clean eighth inning, with one strikeout and two groundouts, set up what should have been a straightforward save opportunity. However, Williams’ struggles stole the spotlight, as his three hits allowed and two earned runs in the ninth nearly erased the Yankees’ hard-fought lead in Anaheim.

For the Angels, Anderson’s six innings were commendable, with only one earned run allowed. The bullpen, however, struggled, with Neris surrendering Peraza’s homer and relievers Reid Detmers and Jake Eder issuing three walks in the final two innings. The Angels’ pitching kept them in the game, but their offense couldn’t capitalize until Williams’ ninth-inning meltdown gave them a chance.

Game Notes

• Devin Williams’ ninth-inning struggles marked his second shaky outing in his last three appearances, raising concerns about his role as the Yankees’ closer.
• Aaron Judge went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts but maintained his stellar .395/.488/1.234 slash line.
• The Angels’ bullpen has allowed runs in six consecutive games, a trend that continues to plague their season at home.
• Austin Wells’ stolen base in the fifth was his third of the year, adding a spark to the Yankees’ offense on the road.

Looking Ahead

The Yankees escaped with the win in Anaheim, but Williams’ near-disaster in the ninth will likely prompt manager Aaron Boone to reevaluate the bullpen’s high-leverage roles. The team’s next game offers a chance to build on their offensive momentum and shore up their late-game execution. For the Angels, the loss stings in front of their home fans, but their ninth-inning rally showed resilience. They’ll look to carry that energy into their next matchup, hoping to convert opportunities into runs earlier in the game.

This game underscored the fine line between victory and defeat in baseball. While Rodon’s dominance and the Yankees’ timely hitting secured the win, Williams’ ninth-inning collapse nearly cost them dearly. As the 2025 season progresses, both teams will need to address their weaknesses—particularly the Yankees’ bullpen stability—to stay in playoff contention.

Final Score: Yankees 3, Angels 2