Nestor Cortes delivered a strong performance, pitching into the seventh inning, leading the New York Yankees to a 5-2 triumph over the Washington Nationals on Monday evening.

The Yankees saw home runs from Gleyber Torres, Austin Wells, and Jazz Chisholm Jr., contributing to their recent success, winning five out of their last six games. Anthony Volpe and Alex Verdugo each tallied three hits, while DJ LeMahieu brought in two RBIs.

Aaron Judge achieved a personal milestone, recording his 1,000th career hit with a single in the ninth inning.

Cortes (8-10) pitched 6 2/3 innings, entering the seventh with a streak of 20 scoreless innings before yielding a homer. He allowed one run on four hits, walked two batters, and struck out five, receiving significant support from Verdugo and Judge in the outfield. Clay Holmes closed the game, earning his 28th save.

The Nationals saw home runs from Juan Yepez and Jacob Young. However, 22-year-old right fielder Dylan Crews, widely recognized as the third-best prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, struggled in his major league debut, finishing 0-for-3 with a walk.

Nationals’ starting pitcher Mitchell Parker (7-8) gave up two runs on five hits in four innings of work, walking two and striking out five.

The game began with Torres launching a home run on the very first pitch.

In the second inning, with a runner on second, Keibert Ruiz hit a long fly to left field, but Verdugo made an impressive catch against the wall.

Volpe sparked the fourth inning with a double, advanced to third on a flyout, and later scored thanks to LeMahieu’s sacrifice fly.

During the fourth inning, Judge made a spectacular catch to prevent a home run off Andres Chaparro’s hit while simultaneously doubling a runner off base. With James Wood on first and one out, Chaparro sent a fly ball deep to center, only for Judge to leap at the wall, catching it and throwing to the infield, where Wood was doubled off first base.

Wells increased the lead to 3-0 with a homer leading off the sixth inning. Volpe then singled and advanced to second due to an error by center fielder Young. Volpe stole third and scored on another sacrifice fly by LeMahieu.

The Nationals threatened in the sixth, with Ildemaro Vargas hitting a single followed by a double from Young. Cortes struck out both CJ Abrams and Crews, and after Wood walked, he fanned Chaparro to escape the inning.

Yepez hit a home run in the seventh, making it 4-1, but Chisholm responded with another run for the Yankees in the eighth, bringing the score to 5-1.