Yankees sweep O’s to extend division lead
Series recap
Game one
Yankees 10 Orioles 7
There were a lot of runs being scored in this one. And probably because JA Happ was on the mound for the Yankees... but despite a bad showing from Happ, the Yankee offense was able to pick up the slack.
After Happ allowed 2 runs in the first inning, Gleyber Torres would start his monstrous series with a home run cutting the lead in half. But then the Orioles scored 4 more runs and after that, it was 6-1 Baltimore by the end of the 4th inning. The Yankees retaliated in the 6th when Gary Sanchez and Kendreys Morales drove in 2 runs making it 6-3. But the Orioles scored another run the following inning making it 7-3. Which was a very frustrating run as it looked like the hole was getting too deep. But then, just like this team has done all year, they kept fighting.
In the 7th inning, the Yankees started a comeback. It started with DJ LeMahieu singling in Gio Urshela making it 7-4 and moving Cameron Maybin to 3rd. Then Aaron Hicks knocked in Maybin on a fly out to left. Where Maybin scored on a throwing error. It was now 7-5. Then in the 8th inning, Gleyber Torres homered to left center making it a one run game. The Orioles would take that one run lead into the bottom of the 9th. But Gary Sanchez had something to say about it. After Aaron Hicks hit a sacrifice fly tying the game, Gary Sanchez hit a 3 run- go ahead home run to left to make it 10-7! A clutch hit that gave the Yankees the lead for the first time! And a lead they wouldn’t give up again!
JA Happ got the start in this one and he was very shaky. He only made it through 3.2 innings on 6 ER and 3 strikeouts while letting up 9 hits. The Baltimore lineup roughed him up a bit which is not a good sign from the man who signed a 34 million dollar extension deal over the offseason. After Happ got taken out, Cessa came in for 2 and a third innings of work and allowed 1 run. Holder and Britton were next and they held it together until the Yankees took the lead where Chapman came in and struck out the side in the 9th! Good win!
Game 2
Yankees 11 Orioles 4
This game was a little different from the pervious matchup in that in this game, the Yankees took the lead early and ran with it.
Gary Sanchez picked up where he left off homering in 3 with a first inning bomb to left giving the Yankees a comfortable lead! In the 3rd inning, Gio Urshela doubled home Aaron Hicks making it 4-0! Then Clint Frazier homered later in the inning making it 6-0 on the 2 run shot! Then Clint really broke out of the slump he was in ever since coming back from injury with another home run, this time a 3 run shot, making it 9-0! And his second home run of the game!
Domingo German was on the mound in this one and he was solid once again earning his league leading 9th win of the year! He went 5 innings striking out 5 and allowing 2 earned runs! Hale pitched the remaining 4 innings allowing 1 earned run the rest of the way.
Another solid win for the Yankees as the expanded there lead on Tampa for the Division!
Game 3
Yankees 7 Orioles 5
The Yankees used the long ball in this one to power past the Orioles and take game 3 of the series.
It started early again in the second inning. When youngster Thiro Estrada homered to center making it 2-0 Yanks! Later in the inning, DJ LeMahieu homered as well. Another 2 run home run making it 4-0! In the 3rd, Gleyber made it 5-0 with the Yankees 3rd home run of the game in 3 innings! In the 4th, Gary Sanchez made it 4 for the Yanks hitting a solo shot making it 6-1! The Yankees final home run and run for the game, came once again, off the bat of Gleyber Torres, who hit a solo home run for there 7th run of the game! Gleyber absolutely owned the Orioles in this series and he was a big part of this series sweep!
CC Sabathia was on the hill for this one. And while he wasn’t perfect he was solid enough to pick up the W. He went 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 7 strikeouts. The bullpen was then fantastic not allowing an earned run at all! Kahnle, Ottavino, Green and Chapman all pitched in an inning to close this one down and seal a win for the Yankees!
Game 4
Yankees 6 Orioles 5
Clint Frazier and Luke Voit homered to help power the Yankees to a series sweep of division rival Baltimore Orioles
The Yankees wouldn’t score for the first 4 innings of this one. The Orioles held a 1-0 lead for this first half of this one after a fielders choice scored a run in the second inning. The Yankees first run came in the 5th off the bat of Clint Frazier. Who homered to left tying the game at 1. The very next inning, Gio Urshela continued his hot streak by singling in 2 runs making it 3-1 Yankees! In the 7th, Austin Romine singled in another run making it 4-1 and stretching the Yankee lead! Voit then stretched it even more by homering in the 8th making it 5-1! Everything was looking smooth and the sweep seemed like it was in the bag. But then in the bottom half of the 8th, the Orioles fought back. Mancini started the scoring off singling in a run. Nunez followed with a 3 run home run which tied the game at 5. Fortunately in the 9th, the Yankees were able to get something going again and Aaron Hicks walked in the go ahead run! Britton then came in and shut down his former team in a scoreless bottom of the 9th securing the Yankee win!
Tanaka pitched a solid 6 innings for the Yankees while allowing 1 earned run, striking out 5. Holder and Kahnle both struggled in his relief but the Yankees were still able to get the job done competing a 4 game sweep!
The Yankees were able to extend there lead on the AL east furthering there gap with the Rays.
The Yankees will now go to Kansas City for a 3 game set against the Royals and will look to keep this hot streak alive!
