Yankees Shut Out Orioles 2-0 Behind Strong Performance by Luis Gil

BALTIMORE (AP) – Luis Gil out Corbin Burns, Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning and the New York Yankees the top of the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Gil (2-1) allowed two hits and a walk over a career-high 6 1/3 innings in another low-scoring game between the top two teams in the AL East. Baltimore began this four-game streak with victories of 2-0 and 4-2, but Gil’s performance helped the Yankees ensure they were not swept.

“Anytime he goes out there he usually has tremendous stuff and the ability to do what he did tonight,” manager Aaron Boone said. “What a great tone he set for us. Poison is he’s coming out there on you.”

The game was important enough that New York used a closer Clay Holmes for the final five rounds in his longest outing of the season. He struck out Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman with two on to end the eighth, then circled a leadoff single in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.

The teams are back in a virtual tie for first place, with the Orioles (19-11) ahead of New York (20-12) by percentage points.

“Making sure I threw strikes – it was my main job – even going back to spring training,” Gil said through a translator. “We knew I had to be more consistent in the strike zone.”

Burnes (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits, striking out six with one walk in his first loss since being traded from Milwaukee to Baltimore last season. The only score of the game came when Cabrera’s line drive down the right field line barely cleared the wall and stayed even. The homer was upheld after a brief review – the ball was sitting inside the foul pole after that.

Caleb Ferguson he struck out his only two batters in the seventh after relieving Gil. John Hamilton started the eighth by striking out a walk and then hitting a batter. After Hamilton retired, a pinch hitter Anthony Santander on a false pop, Holmes stepped in to face the top of Baltimore’s order.

TRAINING ROOM

Yankees: Said Boone RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow) had a “very heavy throwing day” on Tuesday but was not on the mound. “Sounds like that went well,” Boone said. … said Boone OF Alex Verdugo maybe he will be back thursday after going on the father list.

Orioles: Baltimore sent RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder) on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday and activated LHP John means (left forearm) from the IL.

UP THE FATHER

The Orioles did not name a starter for Thursday’s series finale. LHP Carlos Rodón (2-1) takes the mound for the Yankees.

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