BALTIMORE (AP) – Anthony Santander mentioned it felt like a playoff recreation at Camden Yards.
Just a few extra performances like this, and the Baltimore Orioles might be there.
Santander homered off Tommy Kahnle within the ninth inning to provide the Orioles a 1-0 victory over New York on Friday evening, spoiling Aaron Judge’s return for the Yankees. Judge walked thrice in his first recreation again from a toe damage, however the Orioles stored New York off the scoreboard with a spectacular defensive effort.
In the eighth inning alone, Santander made a lunging, sliding catch in proper area, and second baseman Adam Frazier made a diving cease on Anthony Rizzo’s grounder with a person on second.
“Great defense, great pitching, that’s how we win baseball games,” Santander mentioned.
Orioles rookie Grayson Rodriguez pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, going toe to toe with New York’s Gerrit Cole, who went seven. Félix Bautista (6-1) struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Kahnle (1-1) couldn’t match that within the backside half, permitting Santander’s one-out drive that went properly past the fence in right-center area.
The Orioles remained 1 1/2 video games forward of Tampa Bay atop the AL East, and so they now lead the last-place Yankees by 9.
The recreation was delayed 2 hours, 32 minutes by rain, however that did little to dampen the keenness of a crowd that included a mixture of Yankees followers cheering Judge and Orioles followers embracing their first-place staff.
“Right before the start of the game, it felt like a playoff game,” Santander mentioned. “That’s good to have those fans to support us. Hopefully they can continue to do that.”
Judge lined out to proper area on the primary pitch to him within the first, however he reached base the opposite thrice he got here up.
Anthony Volpe was robbed twice by stellar Baltimore protection. Third baseman Ramón Urías made a diving cease on his one-hopper within the fifth. In the eighth, Volpe led off with a fly to proper that Santander reached out and caught earlier than sliding on his abdomen throughout the grass.
New York ultimately had two on and two out that inning when Rizzo’s grounder regarded headed to proper area. Frazier’s diving play prevented that.
“Defense won us the game,” Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. “Adam Frazier, diving play off Rizz. Santander with a great diving catch. We turned some double plays.”
Each staff had solely 4 hits. Rodriguez was certainly one of Baltimore’s prized prospects, and after being despatched again to the minors for a bit, he could also be discovering a groove.
“I just love his delivery right now and the tempo of his delivery,” Hyde mentioned. “Just really, really competitive.”
DEADLINE OUTLOOK
Orioles basic supervisor Mike Elias mentioned it’s no secret that the Orioles are engaged on probably including pitching upgrades on the commerce deadline. He mentioned the staff has the wherewithal to make “good baseball trades” even when it means including payroll.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: Elias mentioned he hopes OFs Cedric Mullins (proper adductor groin pressure) and Aaron Hicks (left hamstring pressure) can return and play a big a part of August. … Elias mentioned LHP John Means (left elbow UCL surgical procedure) and RHP Mychal Givens (proper shoulder irritation) will in all probability be pitching in video games within the Florida Complex League within the early a part of August.
UP NEXT
Baltimore’s Tyler Wells (7-5) takes the mound towards New York’s Clarke Schmidt (6-6) on Saturday evening. Schmidt might be on prolonged relaxation, having final pitched July 21.
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