New York Yankees Recap: Corey Kluber and 12 hits win it for the Yankees

New York Yankees, Corey Kluber
Apr 3, 2021; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees met up with the Baltimore Orioles for the second night in a row and game two of a four-game set at Orioles Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won the first game 4-2. The  Yankees hoped to win tonight to have a chance for a series win. The Yankees have always played well at Camden Yards, but anything can happen tonight with the Yankees not hitting. The Yankees started Corey Kluber, and for the Orioles, it was Bruce Zimmermann. It was a partly cloudy night for baseball with a light 82-degree breeze at game time.

DJ LeMahieu led off the first against Zimmermann and greeting Zim with a double to left. Giancarlo Stanton struck out. Aaron Judge singled DJ to third base. Gio Urshela moved up to the third spot in the lineup had a sac fly to center to drive in DJ for the Yankees early going. Gleyber Torres, with two outs, flew out to left field. At the bottom, Mullins popped out to the catcher. Mancini went down on strikes. Stewart lined out to Torres to end the 1-2-3 inning for Kluber. No score.

The top of the second inning was led off by Aaron Hicks, who struck out swinging. Clint Frazier flew out to the center field. Kyle Higashioka had a two-out single to left. Rougie Odor singled to left, moving Higgy to second. LeMahieu popped out to second to end the half, but the Yankee got the lead in the game. At the bottom, Maikel Franco flew to Aaron Judge in right. Austin Hays walked. Chance Sisco was hit on the legs moving Hays to second base. Ryan Mountcastle hit into a double play ending the inning. Yankees 1 Orioles 0.

Giancarlo Stanton led off the third inning by striking out on the tenth pitch of the at-bat. Aaron Judge hit a 397′ line-drive homer to left-center. Urshela stuck out. Gleyber Torres had a two-out double to the left-field wall. Aaron Hicks lined out to the shortstop to end the half, but the Yankees tacked on another run. At the bottom, Rio Ruiz went down on strikes. Pat Valaika flew out to Judge. Mullins went down on strikes for another 1-2-3 inning for Kluber. Yankees 2 O’s 0.

The New York Yankees led off the fourth with Clint Frazier flying out. Kyle Higashioka hit a home run. Rougie Odor lined to short for the second out. LeMahieu singled to left. Stanton hit a rocket to the middle, moving DJ to second. Judge walked the bases full of Yankees. A pitching change brought in Dillon Tate to face Gio Urshela, who singled driving in LeMahieu, but Stanton trying to score, was called out. Yankees  4 O’s 0.  At the bottom, Mancini led off with an inning opening double. Stewart ground out with Mancini moving to third base. Franco singled in Mancini. Hays went down on strikes looking for the second out. Sisco grounded out to Odor. Yankees 4 O’s 1.

Gleber Torres started the fifth inning by singling to center. Aaron Hicks at the plate, but Torres was called out trying to steal second base. Hick ground out. Frazier chopped out to the pitcher Tate to end the inning. Mountcastle led off the bottom by flying out to Frazier. Ruiz singled. Valaika flew out to Judge. Mullins popped out to Torres. Yankees 4 O’s 1.

Kyle Higashioka led off the sixth inning, lining out. Rougie Odor lined out on a super bullet shot to second base. LeMahieu grounded out to short for a quick Tate inning. With Corey Kluber still on the mound for his longest outing of the year, Mancini walked. Stewart blooped out to Hicks. Franco singled to center, moving Mancini to third base. Hays hit sharply to Urshela for out number two. Sisco lined to first to end the inning. Yankees 4 O’s 1.

Giancarlo Stanton led off the seventh inning, hitting his sixth home run of the season (434′). Judge struck out swinging, and that did it for Tate. The new pitcher was Cole Sulser facing Gio Urshela, who flew out to center. Torres, with two outs, struck out swinging to end the scoreless half. Kluber, with 81 pitches, was back out to face Mountcastle, who led off at the bottom and singled to left. Ruiz struck out. Valaika flew out to far-right, but Judge hauled it in for the second out. Mullins singled, which was the night for Corey Kluber, who has by far his best outing of the season. He was replaced by Jonathan Loaisiga, facing Mancini, who lined out. Yankees 5 O’s 1.

Aaron Hicks led off the eighth inning for the New York Yankees by striking out swinging. Clint Frazier flew out, and Higashioka popped up to catcher Sisco. At the bottom of the eighth, Stewart led off against Loaisiga walking. Franco struck out swinging. Hays singled, moving Stewart to second base. Sisco, with one out, struck out for the second out. Mountcastle struck out for 3 strikeouts in the inning for Loaisiga. Yankees 5 O’s 1.

Rougie Odor led off the ninth for the New York Yankees walking. LeMahieu also walked. Stanton hit into a double play moving Odor to third base. Aaron Judge struck out swinging to end the Yankee night. At the bottom, with last licks on the line for the Orioles, Rio Ruiz faced Lucas Luetge, and he ground out to Urshela for the first out. Pat Valaika flew out to Frazier, replacing Judge in right. Cedric Mullins ground out to first to end the game.

Final score New York Yankees 5 the Baltimore Orioles 1. The winning pitcher was Corey Kluber, and the loser was Bruce Zimmermann.