The New York Yankees squared off against the Baltimore Orioles in the second matchup of a three-game series on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Following a victory in Game 1, the Yankees aimed to edge closer to the top position in the American League East with Luis Gil on the mound. Their efforts paid off, as the win placed them in a tie for first place, with just one game left before the All-Star break (6-1 win on Saturday).
Luis Gil Step Up for the Yankees
Luis Gil continued to impress, allowing only one earned run across six innings while striking out seven batters. He threw 95 pitches, 57 of which were strikes, lowering his ERA to an impressive 3.17. Over his last two starts, Gil has pitched a total of 12.2 innings, giving up just two runs and accumulating 16 strikeouts, showcasing his dominance on the mound.
Yankees’ Bullpen and Offensive Highlights
The Yankees’ bullpen, featuring Tim Hill and Jake Cousins, maintained the momentum, combining for three scoreless innings on just three hits. Since joining the Yankees off waivers, Hill has proven to be a reliable asset, achieving an ERA of approximately 2.00 over 13.1 innings with the team.
On the offensive front, the Yankees racked up 10 hits and six runs, though they also struck out 12 times. Highlight performances included Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who hit back-to-back homers, together driving in four runs on four hits. Gleyber Torres also shone with a three-hit game, marking his best performance of the season, including an RBI. Rookie catcher Austin Wells contributed significantly with a three-run homer in the first inning, driving in Judge and Torres, and boosting his season average to .220 with a .311 on-base percentage.
Areas for Improvement and Upcoming Decisions
However, not all was flawless. Anthony Volpe, Trent Grisham, and DJ LeMahieu managed only a single hit between them, highlighting ongoing issues in the lower half of the Yankees’ batting order. General Manager Brian Cashman is expected to be proactive at the trading deadline to bolster the team’s offensive lineup.
Additionally, rookie first baseman Ben Rice is experiencing his first major slump, striking out three times in four at-bats after a strong start to the season. His recent performance suggests a potential regression was inevitable.
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Looking Ahead: Closing Out the Series
The Yankees are starting to find their rhythm, warming up just in time as they prepare for Carlos Rodon to close out the series on Sunday at 11:35 AM. Despite Rodon’s challenging season, where he’s posted a 4.63 ERA over 103 innings, the team hopes to conclude the series on a high note and maintain their strong position heading into the break.