Franchy Cordero belts another big homer as Yankees destroy Guardians

CLEVELAND — Franchy Cordero may be due to cool off at some point, but the Yankees will enjoy the ride until then.

The left-handed hitting outfielder continued to mash Tuesday night, delivering a three-run home run that was part of the Yankees’ offensive field day in an 11-2 win over the Guardians at Progressive Field.

A night after the Yankees wasted an early chance to deliver a knockout punch against Guardians ace Shane Bieber, they landed it Tuesday against right-hander Hunter Gaddis — in part thanks to Cordero’s homer during a five-run third inning — and didn’t let up on the way to their biggest offensive night of the young season.

The home run was Cordero’s third in his last four games, all of them coming with at least one runner on base. Through 11 games, he leads the Yankees with 10 RBIs — though he was not even in the organization until Opening Day and was making just his sixth start on Tuesday.

In all, the Yankees (7-4) had 13 hits, with every starter collecting at least one.

It was more than enough offensive support for Gerrit Cole, who turned in seven strong innings, settling into a groove after the Guardians jumped on him for two runs in the first inning.

Through three starts this season, Cole has thrown 19 ¹/₃ innings and given up just three runs, pitching like the ace the Yankees need him to be, especially with three members of the expected rotation injured.

Facing the early 2-0 deficit, the Yankees began to chip away in the second inning when Jose Trevino singled home Oswaldo Cabrera.

Then, in their next turn at bat, they had the big inning they were missing Monday night. DJ LeMahieu led off the third with a double before, with one out, they loaded the bases on an Anthony Rizzo hit-by-pitch and a Gleyber Torres walk.

Willie Calhoun, making his second start of the season, fouled off four pitches before coming through with a single to center field that tied the score at two.

Cabrera put the Yankees ahead 3-2 with a sacrifice fly before Cordero launched his three-run shot to make it 6-2.

The Yankees opened the fourth inning with four straight singles from Aaron Hicks, LeMahieu, Aaron Judge and Rizzo, knocking Gaddis out and taking a 7-2 lead in the process.

Before the inning was over, Torres had driven in another run on a double play to make it 8-2.

Hicks, making his fourth start of the season and batting ninth, got another rally started in the sixth inning with his second leadoff single of the game. He eventually came around to score on an RBI single from Rizzo. Judge later scored on a wild pitch for the 10-2 lead.

The Yankees capped off the scoring in the ninth inning, when Rizzo walked and Torres hit a long single to left field. Rizzo came in to score when Calhoun hit into a double play.