Aaron Judge, Ben Rice homer to back Will Warrens gem as Yankees roll past Rangers

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.Through his first five games over two seasons, Clarke Schmidt pitched to a 6.39 ERA.

After his first six major league appearances with the Braves, Max Fried’s ERA sat at 4.70.Gerrit Cole was merely promising with the Pirates before blossoming into Gerrit Cole with the Astros.It can take pitchers a handful of starts or a handful of years to learn how to consistently retire major league hitters.

It is possible the education of Will Warren is unfolding rapidly.The best development of May for the Yankees has been the development of a player no longer a prospect and no longer looking like a project, Warren taking steps toward growing into a legitimate, reliable major league pitcher.The righty looked like one again Tuesday, when he struck out a career-best 10 and shut down the Rangers in a 5-2, series-opening victory in front of 40,343 in The Bronx.The Yankees (28-19) moved to a season-best nine games over .500 and won for a ninth time in their past 12, beating Aaron Boone’s brother (Bret, the Rangers hitting coach) and Mark Leiter Jr.’s cousin (Jack, a Rangers starter).

They did so behind a big day from Ben Rice, home run No.16 from Aaron Judge and a 25-year-old looking more refined with every outing.Warren had been crushed in six games last season and held a precarious rotation spot after seven games this year, when his ERA read 5.65.Over his past three games, he has looked like a pitcher who is figuring it out.

Against the A’s, Mariners and Rangers, Warren has let up three runs in 18 innings (1.50 ERA).Tuesday, he scattered five hits over 5 ²/₃ scoreless innings while surrendering little hard contact, walking just one and able to pitch his way out of the few jams that surfaced.He cruised through four innings before allowing the first Ranger to reach scoring position, Jonah Heim sending a two-out double into the r...