The Yankees have been trying to figure out how to defend Aaron Judge and Juan Soto all year, but Austin Wells is starting to fit that role. The rookie catcher, in particular, hit two home runs for the first time in his young career in a 6-3 win over the Cardinals on Friday.
“I'm having a lot of fun,” Wells said of the responsibility of taking cleanup at-bats behind Judge, as he did again Friday. “I embrace it and enjoy the challenge.”
Wells took to the mound for the first time in the third inning against right-hander Erick Feddy after the Cardinals pitched to Judge with Soto on second base and one out.
They got away with it as Judge popped out on a 0-for-4, 3-strikeout night.
But after Soto's RBI double tied the game earlier in the inning, Wells hit a game-winning, two-run homer in front of a sold-out crowd in the Bronx.
The catcher hit another two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to help secure the win.
“Those two at-bats were outstanding,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He continues to be a key part of our lineup.”
Wells' power has kept the Cardinals from winning at Yankee Stadium for the first time since the 1964 World Series.
And the win came after the Yankees lost two of three games to a weak Nationals team in Washington.
The Yankees also got another strong start from Marcus Stroman, who gave up two runs and nine hits but no walks over seven innings.
Stroman and Boone also praised Wells, saying they were impressed with his work as a catcher.
But after struggling through the first two months of the season, his offensive production has improved dramatically.
And he has 12 extra-base hits in his last 30 games.
“I think you're looking at the experience and maturity of a good hitter,” Boone said, “and that's the guy we drafted.”
Wells was considered a hitting-oriented catcher coming out of the University of Arizona, but now he seems comfortable in all aspects of the game.
“He's turned himself around in the last two months,” Boone said.
On Friday, Stroman had a similar outcome after pitching shaky over the first three innings.
The right-hander allowed four consecutive singles with two outs in the third inning.
Brendan Donovan tied the game with a run-scoring base hit through the right side of the infield, and Paul Goldschmidt's single to center field gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
Soto, who was miserable against his former team in Washington, going 0-for-12, got his second hit of the night in the third inning to tie the game again.
Gleyber Torres scored from first base on a double to center field.
Wells then hit his first home run of the night to right-center field to make the score 4-2.
The second hit was also to right center field, his 12th of the season.
The only other rookie in franchise history to hit more home runs was Gary Sanchez, who hit 20 in 2016.
Meanwhile, Strowman won easily from the third round onwards.
The right-hander needed 61 pitches to complete three innings, but then threw just 37 pitches over the next four innings — his longest outing since June 22.
Stroman is 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA in four starts since being given extra rest after two consecutive awful outings.
Jake Cousins gave up a solo home run to Nolan Arenado with two outs in the eighth inning, putting the team within one run.
Tommy Kahnle finished the inning and closer Clay Holmes overcame some shaky defense from Anthony Volpe to get the save.
