Yankees add to blistering start, sweep twin bill

Juan Soto hit a three-run homer, and Cody Poteet pitched six solid innings in his debut for New York as the Yankees won 8-2 to sweep a doubleheader from host Cleveland on Saturday, continuing one of the strongest starts in their storied history. New York took the opener 3-2.

The Yankees are 12-3 for the seventh time and first since 2003, when they made one of their 40 trips to the World Series. They’re 8-1 on the road.

Soto, acquired in an offseason trade with San Diego, connected in the fourth off Triston Mckenzie (1-2), who walked six in four innings.

Poteet (1-0) allowed one run on six hits while picking up his first win since 2021 — 1,056 days ago — with Miami. The 29-year-old did not pitch in the majors last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022.

Down 3-0 following Anthony Volpe’s RBI single, Mckenzie grooved a 3-and-0 fastball that Soto pounded over the wall in center for his third homer with New York.

In the opener, the Yankees got a two-run homer from Oswaldo Cabrera and survived a scary ninth inning by closer Clay Holmes to improve to 5-0 in one-run games. New York starter Clarke Schmidt (1-0) allowed one run over five-plus innings.

Estevan Florial, a former touted prospect for the Yankees, and Josh Naylor homered in Game 2 for the Guardians, who are 1-9 in their past five doubleheaders.

■ Reds 5, White Sox 0: At Chicago, Spencer Steer hit a three-run double in Cincinnati’s fiverun second to back Nick Lodolo (1-0), who struck out 10 over 5⅔ shutout innings in his season debut. The Reds totaled four hits — all in the second.

■ Twins 11-4, Tigers 5-1: At Detroit, Matt Wallner hit a three-run homer to cap Minnesota’s seven-run 12th in Game 1. Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0) held Detroit to one run on two hits over six innings in his season debut in Game 2.

■ Diamondbacks 4, Cardinals 2: At Phoenix, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth to back Basic High product Ryne Nelson (1-2), who allowed one run in six innings.

■ Blue Jays 5, Rockies 3: At Toronto, Daulton Varsho hit a grand slam to back Yariel Rodriguez, who allowed one run while striking out six over 3⅔ innings in his major league debut.

■ Phillies 4, Pirates 3: At Philadelphia, Kyle Schwarber went 3-for-3 with a leadoff homer for Philadelphia, which won on Nick Castellanos’ RBI single in the ninth.

■ Giants 11, Rays 2: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Thairo Estrada hit a two-run homer and a solo shot to back Logan Webb (1-1), who allowed one run in seven innings.

■ Brewers 11, Orioles 5: At Baltimore, Jake Bauers hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fourth for Milwaukee, which overcame a 4-1 deficit.

■ Marlins 5, Braves 1: At Miami, Bryan De La Cruz hit a three-run double to back Max Meyer (2-0), who allowed one run in six innings.

■ Astros 9, Rangers 2: At Houston, Kyle Tucker drove in three runs with two doubles, and Houston scored seven runs in the seventh.

■ Nationals 3, Athletics 1: At Oakland, Calif., Mackenzie Gore (2-0) shut out Oakland over five innings while striking out 11.

■ Royals 11, Mets 7: At New York, Salvador Perez hit his 250th home run and totaled four RBIS for Kansas City.

■ Red Sox 7, Angels 2: At Boston, Triston Casas hit a two-run homer in Boston’s four-run first.

David Dermer The Associated Press Juan Soto, right, celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a three-run homer in the Yankees’ 8-2 triumph over the Guardians on Saturday.