Yankees Look Like Yankees Again, At Least Against Orioles

After a shaky start to the season, the Yankees are playing like the Yankees again. Certainly, they're playing like the Yankees against the Baltimore Orioles again.

Yesterday afternoon, they completed a 3-game sweep against the Birds. This time, the hitting bailed out the pitching. Jameson Taillon started, and, although he only allowed 2 runs, he couldn't get out of the 5th inning.

Luckily, the Yankees came up big in that inning. Tim LoCastro reached on an error. Marwin Gonzalez doubled him home. Kyle Higashioka flew out, but DJ LeMahieu reached on another error. The days of the Orioles being known for their defense are long-gone. (In the 1970s, 3rd baseman Brooks Robinson and shortstop Mark Belanger were known as the Leather Curtain.)

Aaron Judge singled home a run. Anthony Rizzo did the same. Then, so did Giancarlo Stanton. It was 4-2 Yankees.

Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you, especially the leadoff variety. Well, if you get one, it can help. Joey Gallo, not known for being selected at the plate, drew one in the 6th. LoCastro singled him to 3rd, and Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly. Josh Donaldson hit a sacrifice fly in the 7th, to make it 6-2 Yankees.

Leadoff walks? LoCastro drew one in the 8th, and stole 2nd. Gonzalez struck out, but Higashioka was hit with a pitch. LeMahieu reached on an error to loaded the bases. LoCastro scored on a wild pitch. Judge hit one out. At 10-2, it looked like the game was in the bag.

Cliché Alert: Looks can be deceiving. (What, you thought I had only one cliché?) Ron Marinaccio is not ready for the major leagues. After starting the top of the 9th with a strikeout, he allowed 3 straight doubles, and uncorked a wild pitch. He got a strikeout, then allowed an RBI single. Aaron Boone saw enough: He brought in Lucas Luetge. And he allowed a walk. Then he got a flyout to end it.

Yankees 10, Orioles 5. WP: Miguel Castro (2-0). No save. LP: Bruce Zimmerman (1-1).

The Yankees remain in 1st place, half a game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays, as they begin a roadtrip tonight, starting with the Kansas City Royals.