Judge goes hitless on opening day for first time, Yankees top Giants 7-0 as robot umpire debuts

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Aaron Judge went hitless on opening day for the first time and struck out four times for the first time since September 2024, but the New York Yankees still produced plenty of offense and beat San Francisco 7-0 Wednesday night in the debut of Giants manager Tony Vitello as the major league season began.

José Caballero drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in a five-run second and also lost the first challenge taken to Major League Baseball’s so-called robot umpire, unsuccessfully appealing a strike by Logan Webb in the fourth.

Max Fried (1-0) allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings to became just the fifth Yankees pitcher since 1969 with at least 6 1/3 shutout innings on opening day, joining Catfish Hunter (1977), Ron Guidry (1980), Rick Rhoden (1988) and David Cone (1996). New York won an opener with a shutout on the road for the first time since 1967.

Webb (0-1) started the fourth inning with a 90.7 mph sinker on the upper, inner corner that was called a strike by Bill Miller, a major league umpire since 1997. Caballero tapped his helmet, and the 12 Hawk-Eye cameras of the Automated Ball-Strike System upheld Miller’s decision in a graphic shown on the Oracle Park scoreboard.

Caballero singled in the second and Ryan McMahon followed with a two-run single before Austin Wells' single prompted a mound visit for Webb. Trent Grisham hit a two-run triple and was checked by medical staff after a hard slide into third.

Judge was booed before the game and during each at-bat as he began his 11th big league season. The California native had been pursued by the Giants during free agency in 2022 but he ultimately chose the Yankees' $360 million, nine-year contract offer.

Webb, a 15-game winner last season making his fifth start on opening day, was tagged for six earned runs — seven in all — and nine hits over five innings.

The 47-year-old Vitello made the big jump from coaching the University of Tennessee.

The teams resum3 the series Friday afternoon, with RHP Cam Schlittler starting for New York opposite lefty Robbie Ray.

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New York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton, right, hits an RBI single in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

San Francisco Giants' Luis Arraez, left, and manager Tony Vitello, middle, watch from the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts after striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge walks to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge walks to the on deck circle during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Norman Powell scored 19 points, Tyler Herro added 18 and the Miami Heat got contributions from everyone while stopping a five-game losing skid with a 120-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

As healthy as they've been all season, the Heat squandered a 17-point lead in the third quarter before recovering in the fourth. Miami led by nine with five minutes left before Bam Adebayo converted a three-point play and Kel'el Ware scored on a layup in an 11-second span.

Adebayo finished with 17 points, Ware had 13 points and 11 rebounds and the Heat had eight players score in double figures. The Heat will stay in Cleveland and play the Cavaliers again on Friday.

Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points before fouling out in the final minutes for the Cavs, whose winning streak ended at four. James Harden and Sam Merrill scored 18 apiece.

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson was hoping for a better defensive effort from his team, which gave up 131 points against Orlando on Tuesday. Atkinson believes the Cavs are capable of more, but said they need to “make the shift in mentality” with the playoffs nearing.

The Heat, with one of the NBA's most potent offenses, were a good test and they controlled most of the first three quarters. Miami made 13 3-pointers while opening a 21-point lead in the first half.

Center Jarrett Allen missed his 10th straight game for the Cavs, who haven't been fully healthy all season. The latest injury came in warmups as forward Dean Wade rolled his right ankle when he stepped on a ballboy's foot. Wade has started 36 games.

The teams meet Friday for the fourth and final time this season.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, right, shoots over Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson, left, shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Nae'qwan Tomlin (35) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell goes up for a shot next to Miami Heat guard Pelle Larsson (9) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins (22) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant (3) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) grabs a rebound in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)