Angels' Reid Detmers dominates, Aaron Boone's Ben Rice strategy: Yankees takeaways

Q: What was the final score of the Yankees vs. Angels game?

The final score was 7-1 in favor of the Angels.

Q: Who pitched for the Angels against the Yankees?

Reid Detmers pitched for the Angels and dominated the game.

Q: How many home runs did the Yankees give up in the first inning?

The Yankees gave up three consecutive home runs in the first inning.

Q: What was the crowd size at Yankee Stadium during the game?

The game was attended by 37,792 fans at Yankee Stadium.

NEW YORK – As Paul Goldschmidt put it, there was “not much action on the bases’’ by the Yankees on Tuesday, a night after scoring 11 runs.

As for the Angels?

Four batters into Ryan Weathers’ start, the Yankee lefty had already given up three consecutive homers – a barrage that stunned and agitated the just-arriving Yankee Stadium crowd.

This time, the Yankees’ lineup had no response as lefty Reid Detmers continued his dominance against them, pitching into the eighth inning of a 7-1 Angels win before 37,792 fans.

Ryan Weathers ambushed early

Apr 14, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Weathers hadn’t yielded a homer over his first three starts (16 innings), but that changed quickly on a warm Tuesday night.

“Three guys put three good swings on pitches that weren’t where they were supposed to be,’’ said Weathers, who watched Mike Trout, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler connect – all on fastballs.

It began with a one-out, 2-and-1, 95-mph heater that Trout punished over the center field wall.

“Misfired down the middle to one of the greatest hitters to ever play this game,’’ said Weathers, who watched Adell rock the very next delivery 445 feet to left.

But there’s “something to learn from this going forward,’’ mainly how much better Weathers’ fastball played up in the zone.

He lasted five innings, yielded one more homer – to ex-Yankee Oswald Peraza – and finished with 10 strikeouts, one shy of his career best.

Reid Detmers dominates Yanks

Apr 14, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers (48) pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Not overpowering, Detmers used a mix of sinkers, sliders, curveballs, changeups and a sneaky fastball to limit the Yanks to just two hits through seven innings – with nine strikeouts and zero walks.

This, after the Yanks clubbed five homers – two each by Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham – in Monday night’s 11-10 win, when they knocked out lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi in the fourth.

As both a starter and a reliever, Detmers has had the Yanks’ number; he’s yielded just one run in six appearances (2 starts, 15.1 total innings).

“We’ve got to do a better job of creating some things. Credit to him too…he was coming after us,’’ said manager Aaron Boone. “We’ve got to get it going. We just didn’t mount enough.’’

Ben Rice off the bench?

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases on his two-run home run against Yusei Kikuchi #16 of the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Jose Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees celebrates in the dugout his two-run home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels scores a run during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates his three-run home run with Adam Frazier #20 and Zach Neto #9 in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees watches his game-tying, two-run home run in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates in the dugout his solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Jose Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees scores the walk-off run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning for an 11-10 win against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 13: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammates after being at the plate when a wild pitch pitch was thrown, allowing the winning run from third base score in the ninth inning for an 11-10 win against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Apr 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) celebrates with second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Apr 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) is mobbed by teammates after winning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

1 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

1 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

2 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

3 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

4 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

5 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

6 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

7 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

8 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

9 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

10 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

11 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

12 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

13 / 13

See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout

Ben Rice arrived at Tuesday leading the majors in OPS (1.253) yet found himself on the bench against a lefty starter for the second straight night.

Boone said he originally planned to start the lefty-hitting Rice but preferred to “cherry pick’’ when to fire Rice in a big spot.

Instead, Goldschmidt (0-for-3) started a second straight game at first base, in the leadoff spot, following a 1-for-2 Monday night with a double and a walk.

By the time Boone sent up Rice on Tuesday, the Yanks were already down 7-0, with one-out and runners at the corners in the eighth inning.

Batting for Ryan McMahon (5-for-39 to start the season, zero extra-base hits), Rice’s sacrifice fly off righty reliever Cole Silseth drove in the Yanks’ only run.

Also available on the bench, lefty-hitting Jazz Chisholm Jr. – batting for Goldschmidt - struck out against Silseth to end the eighth.

Lefty-hitting Cody Bellinger, rested from the lineup for the first time this year, was also available but wasn’t used.

Aaron Boone on his Ben Rice decision

Mar 27, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) walks on the field before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

It's questionable strategy, taking early at-bats away from the team’s top April hitter – especially with how the lineup has underperformed on balance.

Boone’s pregame argument was that Rice wasn’t in the lineup during the Yanks’ previous two games against lefty starter, and still made an impact.

Last Friday, Rice pinch-hit a home run in his only at-bat, in a 5-3 loss at Tampa Bay.

On Tuesday, Rice entered in the fifth inning and contributed a walk and a single in three plate appearances during the Yanks’ 11-10 comeback win.

“I’ve been able to fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game,’’ said Boone, insisting too that Rice “is going to play against lefties.’’

Rice should eventually get a few starts behind the plate, but Boone isn’t comfortable yet with Rice catching five-plus innings.

They intend to build up Rice by catching simulated games (he caught Carlos Rodon’s latest), but the focus has mostly been on reps at first base, not his natural position.

Boone wants Goldschmidt’s presence against lefty starters; he was batting .331 with a .984 OPS in 157 at-bats vs. lefties since the start of 2025 entering Tuesday.

“Also early in the season, (I’m) trying to keep our bench in play,’’ said Boone, including Amed Rosario, who started at second base Tuesday and batted third.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Angels' Reid Detmers dominates, Aaron Boone's Ben Rice strategy: Yankees takeaways