Judge's HR, Volpe's Sac Fly Stun Birds

The Yankees opened a home series with the Baltimore Orioles last night. Gerrit Cole started, but did not pitch like an ace, going into the 6th inning, and allowing 5 runs, including 2 more home runs. Having notched his 2,000th career strikeout was little consolation.

It was 4-0 Orioles when Harrison Bader led off the bottom of the 4th with a home run. Oswaldo Cabrera and Gleyber Torres led off the 5th with singles. After Aaron Judge hit a hard liner that was caught, the Yankees got a double from Anthony Rizzo, a single from DJ LeMahieu, and a sacrifice fly from Bader, and the game was tied.

But Cole allowed back-to-back singles to start the 6th, and Aaron Boone brought Ron Marinaccio in. He only let 1 of those runs score, but it was enough to give the O's the lead.

The Yankees stranded runners on 1st & 2nd with 1 out on the 7th, and a runner on 2nd in the 8th. And when Torres struck put to begin the bottom of the 9th, it looked like it would be one of those losses.

Judge refused to accept that, and crushed a home run that sent the game to extra innings. Michael King kept the Birds from scoring in the top of the 10th.

In the bottom of the 10th, Bader grounded out to move "ghost runner" Isiah Kiner-Falefa to 3rd. Willie Calhoun was intentionally walked to set up the inning-ending double play. But Anthony Volpe hit one to deep center field. It was caught, but it was deep enough that there would be no play at the plate. Walkoff sacrifice fly.

Yankees 6, Orioles 5. WP: King (1-1). No save. LP: Bryan Baker (3-2).

The series continues tonight. Nestor Cortés starts against Tyler Wells.