Empire State Review Contributor 
Los Angeles, June 18, 2025 — The Los Angeles Angels shut out the New York Yankees 4–0 on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, completing back-to-back shutouts for the first time in the Bronx since 1999. Behind a dominant performance from veteran right-hander Kyle Hendricks and timely hitting, the Angels continued to expose the Yankees’ offensive struggles, extending New York’s scoreless streak to 29 innings.
Angels Pitching Dominates Again
Kyle Hendricks delivered a vintage performance, scattering five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His pinpoint command and steady pace neutralized the Yankees’ batting order, which has been mired in a deep slump.
“Everything was working tonight,” Hendricks said postgame. “I just focused on mixing pitches and letting the defense work behind me.”
The Angels’ bullpen followed suit with scoreless innings from relievers Adam Cimber and José Cisnero, preserving the shutout and notching the club’s ninth such win of the season.
Offense Capitalizes on Key Opportunities
Though not an offensive explosion, the Angels made their hits count. Taylor Ward broke the game open in the sixth inning with a sharp two-run single off Yankees starter Carlos Rodón. Luis Rengifo added an RBI double in the eighth, and Logan O’Hoppe chipped in with a sacrifice fly to round out the scoring.
Manager Ron Washington praised his team’s approach: “We’re grinding out at-bats and getting the big hit when it counts. That’s how you win tight games.”
Yankees’ Slide Continues
For the Yankees, the shutout loss adds to a troubling trend. They’ve now lost five straight games and failed to score in three of their last four, with their longest scoreless streak since a 30-inning drought in 1971 looming. Despite an early-season surge, their offense has cooled dramatically, especially with key contributors like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton going cold at the plate.
Rodón took the loss after allowing two runs over five-plus innings, lowering his ERA to a still-solid 3.12 but showing signs of fatigue.
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t sugarcoat the situation: “It’s unacceptable. We’ve got to find ways to manufacture runs, period. This lineup is too talented to go quiet this long.”
Historic Feat for the Angels
The consecutive shutouts at Yankee Stadium mark a historic milestone for the Angels franchise. The last time Los Angeles blanked the Yankees in back-to-back games in the Bronx was May 1999, when Chuck Finley and Scott Schoeneweis combined for a two-game masterclass.
The latest feat also speaks to a broader turnaround for the Angels’ pitching staff. Once considered a weak link, the rotation has shown consistent improvement over the past month, bolstered by Hendricks’ leadership, Patrick Sandoval’s resurgence, and a bullpen that has shaved its ERA by more than a run since May.
AL Standings Shake-Up
With the victory, the Angels improved to 38–34, climbing closer to a Wild Card spot in the American League. The Yankees, meanwhile, dropped to 44–30 and are now in danger of falling behind the Orioles and Guardians in the race for the AL’s top playoff seed.
The loss also intensified scrutiny from New York media and fans, with calls for lineup changes and trade deadline reinforcements growing louder.
Looking Ahead
The Angels and Yankees wrap up their three-game series on Thursday afternoon, with left-hander Reid Detmers set to face Yankees righty Marcus Stroman. The Yankees will look to snap both their losing streak and scoreless drought, while the Angels aim to complete a rare sweep in the Bronx.
For a team once written off early in the season, the Angels’ blend of timely offense and strong pitching may be setting the stage for a playoff push few saw coming.
