Make no mistake that Jordan Lyles did a huge service for the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium this evening. Coming off of pitching eleven innings yesterday, the bullpen needed rest. And Lyles was able to provide them just that. Lyles’ line 6.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 earned), 2 BB, 8 K.
Judge gave New York the lead in the first inning with a solo home run. Trevino’s RBI-single an inning later extended that lead to 2-0. But the Birds put New York on notice that they weren’t going quietly after that. In fact, they were put on notice that the Orioles weren’t “going” at all.
Robinson Chirinos cut that 2-0 lead in half with his third inning RBI-single. Later in the inning Austin Hays would smack a two-R I single, giving the Birds a 3-2 lead. Hays would later score on Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI-groundout, giving the O’s a 4-2 lead.
But New York wasn’t going quietly either. Judge’s two-run homer in the last of the fifth tied the game up again at four. But it wasn’t tied for long. Ramon Urias’ solo hike run in the top of the 6th would give the Orioles a 5-4 lead. Every little bit helps.
Robinson Chirinos would add a sac fly-RBI in the top of the ninth, as the O’s took a 7-4 victory into the clubhouse. It’s good to see them putting up insurance runs late in games. Keeping the bullpen out of a one-run game in the last of the ninth really can make a difference. This was a great team win, whereby everyone gave everything that was asked of them and then some.
The series continues tomorrow at Yankee Stadium. Bruce Zimmermann gets the start for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by New York’s Jordan Montgomery. Game time is set for just after 7 PM.
Birdland Crush 