NEW YORK — The New York Yankees defeated the Washington Nationals 11-2 on August 27, 2025, at Yankee Stadium, exploding for nine runs in the third inning behind five home runs to complete a three-game sweep. The win improved New York’s record to 73-60, placing the team third in the American League East, while Washington dropped to 53-80, last in the National League East. Aaron Judge highlighted the offensive surge with his 41st home run of the season, part of a barrage that overwhelmed Nationals starter Cade Cavalli in his second start since returning from injury.
Trent Grisham opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning off Cavalli, his 26th of the year, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. The third inning proved decisive, as New York sent 13 batters to the plate and hit four homers in the frame. Judge started the rally with a two-run homer to center, scoring Ben Rice, who had singled earlier. Cody Bellinger followed with a solo shot to right, his 25th. After two more runners reached, Ryan McMahon delivered a three-run homer to left, his 18th. Rice then capped the inning with a solo homer off reliever Takahiro Ogasawara, pushing the score to 9-1. Austin Wells added a solo homer in the fourth, his 18th, and Jasson Dominguez drove in two more with a double in the sixth off reliever Konnor Pilkington.
Max Fried secured the victory for New York, improving to 14-5 with a 3.06 ERA after pitching seven innings, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The left-hander, acquired in a blockbuster trade from Atlanta in the offseason, has anchored the Yankees’ rotation, ranking among American League leaders in wins and ERA. Paul Blackburn pitched the final two innings, surrendering one run on two hits. Fried’s outing included inducing a double play from Luis Garcia Jr. in the second and stranding runners in scoring position.
Cavalli took the loss, falling to 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA, after lasting 2 1/3 innings and yielding eight hits and seven runs, including four home runs. The 27-year-old right-hander, Washington’s 2020 first-round draft pick from Oklahoma, returned to the majors on August 22 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2023 and spending time rehabbing in the minors. He struck out four but hit Judge with a pitch and faced command issues, throwing 76 pitches with 48 strikes. Ogasawara relieved him, allowing three runs over 1 2/3 innings, followed by scoreless outings from Colin Poulin, Jose Ferrer and Pilkington before Josh Rutledge closed.
The Yankees amassed 13 hits, with Bellinger going 4-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, raising his average to .279. Judge finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, maintaining his major league-leading totals in home runs and on-base plus slugging at 1.107. Dominguez doubled and drove in two, while the team went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base. New York stole one base, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. swiping second in the third.
Washington recorded six hits, with James Wood collecting two, including his 31st double. Andres Chaparro provided the Nationals’ second run with a solo home run in the ninth off Blackburn, his first in the majors since debuting on August 13 after a trade from Arizona. CJ Abrams added an RBI single in the sixth to score Wood, who had doubled earlier. The Nationals left five on base and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, including stranding Riley Adams after a walk in the fourth. An error on catcher interference by Mario Millas occurred in the third, and Ferrer committed a pitch timer violation in the sixth.
The umpiring crew consisted of Erich Bacchus at home plate, Brian O’Nora at first, Mike Estabrook at second and Laz Diaz at third. Weather conditions were partly cloudy at 74 degrees with a 12 mph wind out to right field, and the first pitch was at 1:05 p.m.
New York has won five of its last seven games, bolstering its playoff position as the third wild-card team in the American League, 1.5 games behind Cleveland for the second spot and 3.5 games out of first in the East behind Baltimore and Toronto. The Yankees’ offense ranks second in the majors with 211 home runs through August 27, led by Judge’s pursuit of his 2022 American League record of 62. Fried’s consistency has been key, with the pitcher posting a 2.45 ERA in his last 10 starts. Manager Aaron Boone emphasized postgame the importance of capitalizing on matchups against sub-.500 teams to build momentum heading into September.
Washington has lost seven of its last 10, continuing a rebuilding season marked by youth development. Prospects like Wood, batting .261 with 31 doubles, and Dylan Crews, hitting .193 since his June call-up, show promise, but the pitching staff ranks 28th in ERA at 4.85. Cavalli’s return adds potential to a rotation that includes Patrick Corbin and MacKenzie Gore, but command remains a focus area for the former top prospect. Manager Dave Martinez noted after the game the need for better execution in big innings.
The interleague series marked the first meeting between the teams since 2023, with New York now holding a 12-8 edge all-time.
