Aaron Judge, Yankees beat A’s 10-5 despite 3 home runs by rookie Jordan Diaz

NEW YORK — Gleyber Torres homered for the second consecutive game and drove in three runs as the New York Yankees overcame three homers by rookie Jordan Diaz in a 10-5 victory Tuesday night over the Oakland Athletics.

Diaz launched a solo shot in the fourth inning, a leadoff drive in the seventh and a two-run homer in the eighth. The 22-year-old second baseman from Colombia connected off three different pitchers, giving him four home runs in 30 major league games.

Aaron Judge had two RBIs in his return from the injured list and Clarke Schmidt (1-3) pitched a career-high six innings for his first big league win as a starter. The right-hander allowed two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Schmidt entered 0-6 with a 5.47 ERA in his first 12 major league starts, although he was 5-9 with a 4.33 ERA in 41 appearances overall since making his debut in September 2020. He was an effective reliever last season, earning five wins and two saves while compiling a 2.74 ERA in 26 relief outings.

Harrison Bader had three more hits for New York, including the last of three consecutive RBI singles in a five-run third inning. Anthony Rizzo and Torres had the others after Drew Rucinski (0-3) walked the bottom two batters in the order on eight pitches. Judge knocked in the first run of the inning on a grounder to third that was booted by Jace Peterson for an error.

Judge added a sacrifice fly in the eighth following Anthony Volpe's leadoff triple. The reigning AL MVP hadn’t played since April 27 because of a right hip strain.

Jake Bauers hit a two-run homer and a sac fly for the Yankees (20-17), who are getting healthy at the plate this week against the major league-worst Athletics (8-29).

Clay Holmes entered with two runners on in the ninth and struck out three batters to end it.

... AND THEY'RE OFF

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano threw out the first pitch — three days after riding Mage to victory in the Kentucky Derby. It was Castellano's first win in 16 tries at the Derby.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: OF Ramón Laureano remained in concussion protocol. Laureano left Monday night's game in the first inning after his neck and shoulder hit the right-field fence hard when he made a leaping catch to rob Torres of a home run. Oakland manager Mark Kotsay was waiting to hear if Laureano could be available off the bench.

Yankees: LF Aaron Hicks was removed in the fourth with left hip tightness, moments after he had to stop and start on the bases while scoring from second on a single. Hicks was examined at the ballpark by head team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and will be re-evaluated Wednesday. Isiah Kiner-Falefa entered at third base and Oswaldo Cabrera moved from third base to left field. ... RHP Luis Severino (right lat strain) is scheduled to make a rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in an 11:05 a.m. game. ... INF DJ LeMahieu was rested.

UP NEXT

Oakland LHP Kyle Muller (1-2, 6.62 ERA) starts the series finale against rookie RHP Jhony Brito (2-3, 6.08) in a Wednesday matinee.

Muller allowed five runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings last Friday in Kansas City, beating the Royals 12-8. It was the first win by an A's starter through 33 games this year. That was the longest drought to begin a season in MLB history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.