The New York Yankees completed a series sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 3-1 win at Oracle Park on Saturday. The pitching staff allowed just one run across 27 innings in the series. Aaron Judge homered for the second straight game, launching a solo shot in the fifth inning to extend the lead.
The sweep made franchise history. For the first time ever, the Yankees have opened the season with a sweep in three consecutive years. They took four from Houston in 2024, three from Milwaukee in 2025, and now three from San Francisco to start 2026.
Before Saturday’s game, Judge spoke about what motivates him at this stage of his career.
Judge Drops Notable Quote
Aaron Judge has 370 career home runs. Three MVP awards. A resume that already places him among the greats in baseball history. He is not satisfied.
“My job is not to win MVPs,” Judge said before Saturday’s game. “It’s to win games…not All-Star games or MVPs. It’s ‘Did you win it all or not?’ “
The comment reflected where Judge’s mind is as we are entering the new season. Individual achievements are not his measuring stick. October is. And October has not ended the way he wants it to so far.
“The good stuff is fine, but the disappointments are what drive you,” Judge said.
After Saturday’s win, Judge made sure to praise the Yankees pitching staff for its dominance across the series. “Incredible…1 run in 3 games…it makes it easy on offense.”
How the Yankees Took the Series
Will Warren got the start for New York on Saturday and allowed one run across four and a third innings. He touched 98 mph with his fastball early and worked around trouble when he needed to, striking out Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers back-to-back to limit the damage after San Francisco broke through for its only run of the series in the third.
Ben Rice put the Yankees on the board first earlier in the inning with a two-run double that came off the bat at 105 mph and bounced off the right-field wall. Judge added his solo homer in the fifth inning to make it 3-1.
From there, the bullpen locked it down. The Yankees turned four double plays on the afternoon and the bullpen finished the series with eleven scoreless innings.
A Historic Start to the Season
The consecutive opening sweeps tell a story about how the Yankees have approached the beginning of their seasons under Aaron Boone. Saturday marked Boone’s 700th career win as a manager.
Judge has now homered in back-to-back games. His 370th career home run tied Gil Hodges for 83rd on the all-time list and passed Ralph Kiner. Paul Goldschmidt, his teammate, sits two ahead of him at 372.
The Yankees are now 6-0 all-time at Oracle Park with Judge in the lineup.
GettyAaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Yankees
Aaron Judge has three MVP awards and 370 home runs. But the only thing on his mind is the one thing he has not accomplished. A World Series title.
The Yankees are 3-0 after a historic sweep. The pitching staff allowed one run in 27 innings. Everything is clicking early.
Judge is locked in. The Yankees face the Mariners next.
Yankees’ Aaron Judge Drops Notable Quote in Historic Sweep