Yanks Flow O's Woes

The Judgino, calling his shot? Well, Babe Ruth was from Baltimore.

Did the Baltimore Orioles really think that moving the left-field fence at Camden Yards back was going to stop the Yankees from beating them?

If so, they thought wrong. As Kristie Ackert wrote in today's New York Daily News:

The Orioles moved their left-field fence back 26.5 feet before this season, maybe hoping to contain Gleyber Torres. It may be more difficult to go over that fence now, but Torres is still tormenting the Orioles. Monday night, he reached base a career-high tying four times as the Yankees beat the Birds.

It’s not just the Orioles anymore, though, as Torres has been putting up good numbers for the last week before coming into Camden Yards to see his favorite victims. Heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Orioles, Torres was hitting .412/.500/.588 with three runs scored and a home run in his previous five games.

Aaron Judge also got on base 4 times last night. The game began with DJ LeMahieu being hit with a pitch, and Judge doubling him home. The Orioles tied it in the bottom of the 2nd. In the top of the 3rd, Judge swung as if he was looking at the moved-back left field fence, and was saying, "Hold my beer": He hit a home run to right-center, making it 2-1 Yankees.

Unfortunately, a Torres error in the 4th contributed to a rally where the Orioles took a 3-2 lead. But Judge hit an even longer homer to center to tie it in the 5th. In the 6th, LeMahieu grounded into a bases-loaded force play, giving the Yankees the lead. An Oriole error gave the Yankees another run in the 7th.

Fortunately, Jameson Taillon pitched 5 innings, holding the O's to 3 runs. Also fortunately, Michael King pitched 3 perfect innings, striking out 6. Unfortunately, Aroldis Chapman pitched to his pattern: He got the 1st 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, then allowed 2 singles and a double, to get the O's within a run. Fortunately, he got a popup to end it.

Yankees 5, Orioles 4. WP: Taillon (4-1). SV: Chapman (9). LP: Dillon Tate (0-2). The Tampa Bay Rays won, so the Yankees remain in 1st place by 5 1/2 games.

The series continues tonight. Gerrit Cole starts against Jordan Lyles.

Also, Happy 76th Birthday to my guy, Yankee Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson. And to the Orioles' own Hall-of-Famer, a Happy 85th Birthday to Brooks Robinson.