Oswaldo Cabrera returns to lineup with key homer as Yankees start Guardians doubleheader with win

CLEVELAND — Oswaldo Cabrera got off to a hot start to the season, then spent this week being frozen out by the Marlins throwing a trio of left-handed starters against the Yankees.

The third baseman returned to the lineup on Saturday and picked up where he left off.

On a day when the Yankees wasted some prime scoring chances, Cabrera got the job done with a two-run homer that proved to be the difference in a 3-2 win over the Guardians in the first game of a doubleheader at Progressive Field.

Cabrera’s third home run in his 10th game of the season put the Yankees ahead 3-0 in the sixth inning.

From there, the Guardians pushed across a pair of runs charged to Clarke Schmidt before the Yankees bullpen — Caleb Ferguson, Ian Hamilton (two innings) and Clay Holmes — hung on for the win.

In a battle between the teams with the American League’s two best records, the Yankees (11-3) took the first round against the Guardians (9-4).

Schmidt cruised at times on Saturday but also struggled with his command in spots while striking out five and walking a career-high five across five-plus innings.

He looked primed to go deeper into the game, which would have been helpful in the first game of a doubleheader, before running into trouble late.

In the fourth inning, Schmidt issued back-to-back one-out walks to the No. 7 and 8 hitters in the lineup, forcing the bullpen to get up.

But he kept the shutout intact by getting Brayan Rocchio to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Schmidt then got a chance to start the sixth inning but gave up back-to-back singles before being relieved by Ferguson.

The lefty struck out Jose Ramirez, walked Josh Naylor to load the bases and then jammed Tyler Freeman for a soft ground ball up the middle.

Gleyber Torres fielded it and slid over to step on second base but then got off a wild throw to first, allowing Freeman to reach safely and two runs to score.

The Yankees stranded nine runners and went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

That included Trent Grisham grounding into a pair of double plays with the bases loaded — one of which drove in a run to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Juan Soto led off the third inning with a walk but then got erased on a controversial play.

Aaron Judge flew out to shallow center field, but on a day when the wind was wreaking havoc on anything hit in the air, Soto was more than halfway to second when the ball was caught.

Center fielder Tyler Freeman threw back to first base, where Soto ran into Josh Naylor while trying to get to the bag. 

While Soto was called safe on the field, the Guardians challenged the call and got it overturned for the out.

Soto and Aaron Boone appeared to argue that Soto should have been safe because of obstruction, but the umpires did not oblige.