Despite a solid effort by starter Andrew Wojcieckwski, the Orioles came up short against the Yankees losing 3-2.
Lineup
- Austin Hays – CF
- Rio Ruiz -3B
- Anthony Santander – RF
- Renato Nunez – 1B
- Dwight smith Jr. – DH
- Pedro Severino – C
- Mason Williams – LF
- Jose Iglesias – SS
- Pat Valaika – 2B
Starting Prospect – Andrew Wojciecowski – (0-0, 0.00)
After exchanging zeros through the first two innings, the Yankees got to Orioles starter Andrew Wojciecowski in the third when number nine hitter Gio Urshela took a 3-2 fastball into the left field stands to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Mike Tauchman popped an opposite field homer down the left field line that just got over the fence to make it 2-0.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Austin Hays got the Orioles on the board with a two-out bomb to center fielder for his 2nd homer of the season that cut the lead to 2-1.
In the 5th inning, Urshela did his best Gleyber Torres impression and smacked his 2nd homer of the game, this a line shot to right center to stretch the Yankees lead to 3-1. With two out and runner at first, Torres slammed a deep drive to right center that RF Anthony Santander got a good jump. Santander ranged deep to his right, dove and made a spectacular catch to most likely save a run.
In the bottom of the 5th, the Orioles got the first two hitters on base as Jose Iglesias collected his second hit of the game which was followed up by infield single by Pat Valaika. Yankees starter Jonathan Loaisiga then settled down to strike out Hays and Ruiz, but Santander collected a sharp single up the middle that scored Islesias despite a nice throw from Gardner that made it close. Loaisiga then got Nunez to ground out with the tie run on 3rd to keep it 3-2.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Orioles almost got back on the board but Dwight Smith Jr. was thrown out at home trying to score on a single to CF by Iglesias to keep it 3-2.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Yankees went to their bullpen and brought in Zack Britton who got the Orioles 1-2-3.
In the top of the 8th, despite being at just 82 pitchers, Brandon Hyde went to the bullpen instead of having him face the top of the Yankees lineup for the 4th time. Wojciecowski was solid going seven innings, allowing three earned run on seven hits and walk while striking out four. With two lefties coming up to start the inning and then the Torres-Stanton-Sanchez Bermuda Triangle, Hyde went to Richard Bleier to starts the inning.
After getting Brett Gardner to ground out, despite being in a deep shirt, Trautman lined a pitch down the right field line. It was a sure double but Trautman decided to try and stretch it to a triple but didn’t realize Santander had come up with cleanly and fired a one hop strike to third to cut him down for the second out.
For the first time, the three batter rule has come into effect as right-hander Torres has come up against the left-handed Bleier on the mound who has only faced two batters. Bleier got ahead 1-2, when Torres to into a sinker into left field but Mason Williams got a good jump and came in and made the play to finish off the side. Great job by Bleier.
In the bottom of the 8h, Britton stayed on and put together another 1-2-3 inning to keep it 3-2 going into the 9th. With three right-handed power threats coming up, Hyde went back to the bullpen and got Hunter Harvey to try and keep it a one run lead for the Yankees.
Harvey was just about unhittable as he struck out both Stanton and Sanchez on seven pitches before getting Luke Voit to ground out weakly to end the inning. Pretty impressive outing for the rookie.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Yankees brought in closer Aroldis Chapman with Pedro Severino, Mason Williams, and Jose Iglesias due up. Severino ran the count to 3-2 but road a 98 MPH fastball past Severino for out number one. Hyde went to his bench and replaced left-handed hitting Williams with lefty killer Hanser Alberto. Chapman though sawwed off Alberto with a 99 MPH fastball on the fists getting him to ground out weakly to 2B. Chapman finished off the Orioles with 0-2 slider to the back heal that Iglesias swung through to end the games.
Yankees hold off the Orioles 3-2 in a well played game.
Orioles Player of the game: Andrew Wojciecowski (7IP, 3ER, 4K)
Orioles are 1-2 .333, last place (2 GB)
