Gutsy Yankees pitching overcomes quiet offense in shutout win over A’s

The Yankees shut the door on the unofficial first half of the season while shutting out the A’s. 

In Game 81, a gutsy Will Warren passed the baton to a series of four relievers, who collectively silenced the no-longer-Oakland club in a 3-0, series-opening victory in front of a sellout crowd of 46,192 in The Bronx on Friday. 

The Yankees (47-34), who had lost seven of eight after the series opener against the Orioles, have responded by taking four of six and appear back on the right track largely because their staff has outpitched the offensive issues that have popped up. 

They ran away from the rest of the AL East during April and May, stumbled this month and seemingly have righted themselves. With the first three months in the books, the Yankees are 1 ½ games clear of the Rays for first place in the division. 

Will Warren pitches during the Yankees-A’s game on June 27, 2025.

“We put ourselves in a good position,” manager Aaron Boone said after his staff authored its ninth shutout of the season, tied with Cleveland for most in the AL. “It hasn’t been perfect. We’ve hit our bumps … these last couple weeks. 

“But overall, we’ve shown that we’re a team to be reckoned with but with a lot out there to improve on.” 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits a home run during the Yankees-A’s game on June 27, 2025.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the Yankees-A’s game on June 27, 2025.

The offense, particularly of late, has shown signs that improvement is needed, as if Aaron Judge (0-for-3 with an intentional walk, now 9-for-48 over the past 13 games) proving human for a few weeks has infected the rest of the bats. 

On Friday night, they tallied just four knocks against former Yankees prospect Mitch Spence and Sean Newcomb, but the first three of those hits scored runs: a second-inning home run from Jazz Chisholm Jr.; a third-inning single from Cody Bellinger (that followed an intentional walk to Judge) to score Anthony Volpe; and a fourth-inning, bases-loaded comebacker from DJ LeMahieu that might have been an inning-ending double play had Spence not tried to barehand it, slowing the ball for an infield single. 

Cody Bellinger hits an RBI single during the Yankees-A’s game on June 27, 2025.

That would be enough because Warren survived and four relievers after him thrived. 

In an opening frame that seemed ominous, Warren walked the bases loaded and prompted Allan Winans — who had been believed to be in the mix to start Sunday’s series finale — to begin warming in the bullpen. 

“Sometimes, I’m good at executing corners,” said Warren, who could not find those corners early. “Tonight, I’m spraying the ball a little bit so, ‘All right, let’s throw it to the bigger part of the plate and let them put the ball in play.’” 

Tim Hill pitches during the Yankees-A’s game on June 27, 2025.

The mindset shift worked. On pitch 36, a good sinker from Warren caught Gio Urshela looking, stranding all three and allowing the Yankees to exhale. 

“He’s probably two hitters away from being out of the game,” Boone said of Warren, who after a slow start has posted a 1.96 ERA in his past four starts. “He’s got the confidence and he’s got the stuff. He can get right out of that. He can get swing-and-miss in the strike zone, which he did.” 

Warren then sailed until the fifth, when again he danced into and out of trouble. 

Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt celebrates in his team’s dugout after scoring on DJ LeMahieu’s RBI single against the Athletics in the fourth inning.

A Willie MacIver double and Max Schuemann walk began a threat, but Lawrence Butler swung through a four-seamer, Jacob Wilson flew out, and Brent Rooker grounded out, Warren once again navigating out of danger and exiting after 100 pitches. 

“He has heart,” said Chisholm, who is slashing .329/.392/.557 with four homers, four doubles and 13 RBIs over his past 19 games. 

“It’s not always going to be perfect,” Bellinger added of Warren. “He battled really well. It shows you he’s building confidence in himself.” 

New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams celebrates with Ben Rice after they beat the Athletics.

After Warren’s five scoreless innings, Tim Hill — despite another lateral play that exposed LeMahieu’s lack of range, along with an error from Chisholm — ground-balled his way out of a jam. 

Fernando Cruz, Luke Weaver and Devin Williams (11th save) preserved a three-hitter that left a Yankees team spiraling just a few weeks ago feeling confident. 

“I think when we play Yankee baseball the way we’re supposed to, there’s not anybody that can beat us,” Warren said at the halfway mark.