Yankees Offense Erupts: Verdugo's Homer Powers 15-3 Rout of Brewers

MILWAUKEE - The New York Yankees put on an offensive showcase on Saturday, overpowering the Milwaukee Brewers with a barrage of runs in a resounding 15-3 victory at American Family Field. Alex Verdugo’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, sparking a relentless assault that saw the Bronx Bombers collect 19 hits and launch four homers on the night.

Verdugo, slotted into the cleanup spot for the first time as a Yankee, wasted no time in justifying manager Aaron Boone’s decision. After Anthony Volpe was hit by a pitch and Juan Soto drew a walk, Verdugo pounced on an 87.6 mph slider from Joe Ross, sending it soaring over the fence for a three-run blast that gave the Yankees an early lead.

“That four spot is a great spot in the lineup to come up with guys on the bases,” Verdugo said, savoring his fourth homer of the season. “Today we just got it done.”

The Yankees’ offensive onslaught was far from over. In the third inning, Gleyber Torres busted the game wide open with a three-run double off Ross, providing a glimpse of his resurgent form after a recent slump.

“Finally, I did something for the team, especially in that situation,” Torres said, beaming with relief. “There has been a lot of work in the cage. Finally, I saw a result tonight.”

Verdugo, ever the team player, was elated for his teammate’s breakthrough. “You have to eliminate results and go off feels or little victories that might not show up in the box score,” he said. “He’s been doing a really good job of competing, fighting and working on his craft. Today was one of those days.”

With the early cushion, Carlos Rodón settled into a groove, limiting the Brewers to a single run on two hits over six innings, striking out a season-high eight batters along the way.

“It’s always easy when the offense is firing like that,” Rodón said. “I can just go right at the zone and get guys out. Hats off to them for getting guys across the plate.”

The Yankees’ offensive juggernaut showed no signs of slowing down, as Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo added to the onslaught with back-to-back homers in the sixth inning. Judge, who had been mired in a slump, emphatically broke free with a towering two-run shot off Thyago Vieira, while Rizzo followed suit with a two-run blast of his own.

“We were trying to keep the throttle down, because this is a good team,” Judge said, acknowledging the Brewers’ potent lineup. “They’re a good ballclub that swings the bat well, and they’ve got a great bullpen on the back end. Through and through, guys were having great at-bats and staying locked in all game.”

With a 14-run cushion, the Yankees even had the luxury of allowing catcher Jose Trevino to make his pitching debut in the ninth inning. While his knuckleball drew praise from teammates during warmups, Trevino disappointingly refrained from unleashing it too often, much to Verdugo’s chagrin.

“I think he needed to go to the knuckleball a little more,” Verdugo quipped. “Next time, we need to see a little bit more knucks. His dances a lot, so it’d be fun to see him throw a handful of those.”

As the dust settled on the 15-3 rout, the Yankees had not only secured their most lopsided victory of the season but also sent a resounding message to the rest of the league. With their potent lineup firing on all cylinders, the Bronx Bombers appear poised to continue their offensive onslaught, making a strong case as one of the most formidable lineups in baseball.