Yankees Make Orioles Pay

Losing 2 out of 3 to the Baltimore Orioles, at home, last week was a massive embarrassment for the Yankees. Someone had to pay.

Last night the Orioles began to pay. DJ LeMahieu led off the game with a single, and Aaron Judge hit a home run. With 1 out in the 3rd inning, Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch, and Giancarlo Stanton and Luke Voit hit back-to-back home runs. Now, it was 5-0 Yankees. Now, it was starting to look like a post-2014 Yankees-Orioles game.

Gerrit Cole started, after missing a start due to an injury. Aaron Boone played it safe by limiting him to 5 innings, in which he allowed 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks, with 7 strikeouts. That run, and 2 of those hits, came in the 5th. He threw 108 pitches over those 5 innings, and with a 5-0 lead, there was no reason to risk him any further.

Michael King pitched 3 shutout innings, looking very sharp. Joey Gallo hit one out in the 8th, and LeMahieu in the 9th. Sal Romano came in to pitch, and was a big shaky. As it turned out, he was pitching through an injury. Aroldis Chapman had to be brought in to get the last 2 outs. In spite of a wild pitch, he got them, both on strikeouts.

Yankees 7, Orioles 2. WP: Cole (15-7). No save. LP: Alexander Wells (1-3).

The series continues tonight. Nestor Cortes starts against John Means.

Injury update: The good news: Domingo German may be activated for the weekend series with Cleveland, although he'll be in the bullpen, not starting, so as not to overwork him. Jameson Taillon is throwing, and could be back soon. Luis Severino will make a rehab start this week, and may actually pitch again this season.

The bad news: Clint Frazier and Aaron Hicks are out for the season, and might never play for the Yankees again. Zack Britton is also out for the season, following surgery. 

The unsure news: Boone says Jonathan Loaisiga is "close to throwing" and "making positive strides." For all we know, he may be spouting platitudes again. Miguel Andjuar might return before the end of the season.