The Yanks got Gerrit Cole 3 runs in the top of the 1st and he took it from there — pitching 7 innings of 2-run ball. He pitched better than that — he was DEALING — pitching a shutout into the 6th, filling the strike zone with strikes.
The Yankee runs came on a 2-out Gleyber Torres RBI double, and then a wild pitch that scored 2 runs — Gleyber hustling in from 2nd on an aggressive and brilliant running play.
Clay Holmes came in to pitch the 8th and 9th for the save. And the Yanks got great defensive plays all evening from their infield.
“We won tonight on defense and baserunning to be honest,” offered Gerrit Cole afterwards.
On a beautiful 70-degree Wednesday night in Baltimore.
NY moves to 28-9, the best record in baseball. Baltimore falls to 14-24.
1. Gleyber Gets Yanks Their 3 Runs
Jordan Lyles got the first two outs in the top of the 1st, but then Anthony Rizzo and Josh Donaldson hit successive singles. Gleyber Torres got a big 2-out-runner-in-scoring-position double to plate Rizzo and it was 1-0 NY.
Gleyber gets us started pic.twitter.com/kp7uGOtQ7q
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 18, 2022
Then Lyles threw a wild pitch, scoring Donaldson — AND scoring Gleyber who raced around from 2nd!
HERE COMES ANOTHER RUN HEEEEEE SCORES! pic.twitter.com/ueAXox0Wop
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) May 18, 2022
2. Cole DEALING
Gerrit Cole was being modest about winning on baserunning and defense. He was DEALING — pitching the shutout into the 6th. He was absolutely toying with hitters — filling the strike zone with his 98 MPH heater, 89 MPH slider, 82 MPH knuckle curve, and occasional 92 MPH cutter.
This is a work of art. pic.twitter.com/G9WhO8fCZi
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 19, 2022
In the 6th he allowed a leadoff single to Cedric Mullins and then made a mistake — a knuckle curve that hung to Austin Hays, who ripped it for an RBI double. Hays came around to score on two groundouts and that was it for Baltimore’s scoring.
Cole goes to 4-0 2.89 on the season.
“The guy’s a competitor,” said catcher Jose Trevino afterwards about Cole. “He’s an unreal pitcher, but when he gets up there he’s a competitor, and you’re going to get everything.”
3. Holmes Closes
Clay Holmes got the 1st out of the 8th, but then allowed a single to Hays. Anthony Santander hit a SHOT down 1st that would have been trouble in the 3-2 game — probably a game-tying double down the line — but Anthony Rizzo made a terrific play to spear the line drive and turn it into an inning-ending double play.
Strictly Riz, he don't play around. pic.twitter.com/BvsRG8UObq
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 19, 2022
That left Yankee Twitter to wonder who would pitch the 9th with the 3-2 lead — HOPEFULLY NOT AROLDIS CHAPMAN (who had given everyone a near heart attack the night before), or Chad Green (who has coughed up a lot of homers in general the last 2 years).
But manager Aaron Boone brought Holmes out to pitch the 9th as well and he threw down a 1-2-3 9th inning for the save — saving Yankee Twitter from agita as well.
Holmes is nasty 🤢@ClayHolmes21 🔥 pic.twitter.com/N3ydfYhymM
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 19, 2022
“I was a little hesitant to send him out there for the 2nd,” said Aaron Boone of Holmes afterwards. “But only 8 pitches there in the 1st, and having him up last night I just wanted to make sure he felt good about it.”
When asked about why Holmes’ sinker is so effective, Boone answered, “I mean have you seen it? That’s why. He throws it in the zone. There’s not many that rival that. Especially when you consider the velocity, the movement, down, in, side to side. That’s one of the nastiest pitches in baseball.”
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