Orioles reinforce case as a major threat in the AL, bludgeon Yankees to win another series
NEW YORK – Since Tuesday’s third inning, when Aaron Judge took a fastball off his left hand, the Yankees were clear about defending their captain.
So, that message was sent to the Baltimore Orioles, with a pitch Wednesday delivered at Gunnar Henderson’s right shoulder.
By Thursday, the Orioles completed their best counter response by winning a second straight game at Yankee Stadium, knocking out Luis Gil in the second inning of a 17-5 blowout victory.
The carousel of Yankees relievers started early enough that catcher Jose Trevino entered to pitch the ninth, and yes, the bullpen is big area of concern for Aaron Boone’s club.
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Henderson took his personal revenge, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a stolen base.
“They’re a good ballclub. We saw that last year,’’ said Judge, referencing Baltimore’s 100-win season and division title.
This formidable Orioles team is also dealing with plenty of adversity on the pitching side, with the added news Thursday that Kyle Bradish (eight starts, 2.75) just underwent season-ending elbow surgery.
That's the third Orioles starter lost for the year.
But after pulling off a 7-6, 10-inning win Wednesday and pounding out 19 hits Thursday, the Orioles (49-25) moved within a half-game of the AL East-leading Yankees (51-26), one game worse in the loss column.
"It’s going to be back and forth all the way to September, that’s for sure. I think we’re looking forward to having those battles,'' said Judge. "But it ultimately comes down to us just taking care of ourselves.''
Orioles hand Yankees' Luis Gil his toughest start of the season
Judge arrived back in Thursday’s lineup and belted his MLB-leading 27th homer, but that two-run blast came after Gil was tagged for six runs in the second, retiring just one batter.
The AL’s ERA leader entering the game, Gil saw that stat jump from 2.03 to 2.77.
After being blanked over 6.1 innings by Gil at Baltimore on May 2, the Orioles "had a plan to get after the fastball, and they took it away,'' manager Aaron Boone said of their aggressive approach.
"I let the team down today,'' Gil said through an interpreter, vowing to treat Thursday's loss as "a learning experience'' and make "the necessary adjustments'' before his next start, probably against the Mets.
How rough was that six-hit, two-walk frame that included a two-run homer by Cedric Mullins and a three-run triple by Ryan Mountcastle?
In one-third of an inning, Gil managed to surrender double the amount of runs he’d allowed during the entire month of May, when he was named both Pitcher and Rookie of the Month.
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In all, the seven runs matched the entire number of runs yielded by Gil in his last nine starts combined, when he posted an 8-0 record and a 1.14 ERA.
These teams will meet again July 12-14 at Camden Yards, in the critical two weeks leading up to the MLB trade deadline.
Aaron Judge: "Orioles bring it every single day''
The Yankees should be actively seeking bullpen upgrades, and the Orioles will be shopping for starters.
Meanwhile, the O’s have won five of the seven games played against the Yanks this season, and Baltimore didn’t even pitch ace Corbin Burnes this week in the Bronx.
“They have some great young players (who) play hard, play fast. They have some great arms,’’ said Judge. “It’s fun competing against those guys. They bring it every single day.’’
On Thursday, the O’s “came out swinging early on and they had some success against Gil, and we really couldn’t answer back after that.’’
Judge also referenced a need to "clean it up on defense a little bit'' after the Yanks committed three errors- two by Oswaldo Cabrera, and one by Gleyber Torres, who exited the game out of caution due to tightness near his groin.
"If we go out there and play the baseball we’re supposed to,'' then Judge feels the Yanks will be fine.
But the Orioles aren't going away. They're in the passing lane now, and summer has only just officially begun.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Orioles bludgeon Yankees in battle atop of AL standings
