In games against the Orioles in the Bronx this season, the Yankees have scored a lot of runs. They didn’t quite reach double digits again in this game, but they impressive offensive output against Baltimore continued.
Didi Gregorius led the way with four RBI, and broke a tie with a home run in the fifth inning. The Yankees cruised after that, thanks to the offense and eight really good innings from Luis Severino. The 8-2 win gave the Yankees their third straight victory, and at least a series split against the Orioles.
The Yankees picked up where they left off yesterday, scoring in the bottom of the first. Brett Gardner led off the inning with a double, and moved to third two batters later on a Gary Sanchez single. Gregorius flew out after that, but it was enough for Gardner to tag up and score, giving the Yankees an early lead.
The Orioles came right back to take the lead in the second, however. With two outs in the inning, Chris Davis drew a walk. Wellington Castillo followed that with a home run, putting Baltimore in front.
The Yankees proceeded to answer right back in the bottom half of the inning. Chase Headley and Matt Holliday singled on either side of a Jacoby Ellsbury fly out. Greg Bird then grounded one to first, where it went between Davis’ legs. Bird reached safely, as Holliday moved to third and Headley scored to tie the game.
After the early burst of runs, the next couple innings went by quickly and scoreless. Then in the fifth, the Yankees regained the lead. Judge drew a one-out walk, chasing Baltimore starter Gabriel Ynoa from the game. Two batters later, Gregorius homered off reliever Miguel Castro, putting the Yankees in front again.
The Yankees got some insurance in the seventh, thanks in part to some fun Orioles’ fielding. Following a Bird walk to lead off the inning, Gardner reached when Jonathan Schoop booted a grounder. Judge then walked to loaded the bases, bringing up Sanchez.
Sanchez blooped one into right and it dropped in for a single. The best way to describe what happened is that right fielder Mark Trumbo began loading up for a throw home, but then started buffering, and missed the part where he was supossed to catch the ball. That scored a run, as did a sac fly from Gregorius in the next at bat. They added another when Headley singled. Sanchez was thrown out trying to go to third on the play, but Judge scored, and the Yankees ended the inning up five.
A solo home run for Bird in the eighth gave the Yankees another run to work with heading into the ninth.
After eight great innings from Severino, the Yankees decided to let David Robertson finish things off. Severino allowed just two runs on three hits and a walk, striking out seven in his eight innings. He allowed just one runner after the home run in the second.
Robertson allowed a walk to Manny Machado to start the ninth, but got through the inning unscathed. The Yankees walked away with a third consecutive win, and they continue to put some pressure on the teams around them.