Luis Gil Strikes Out 14. Soto Goes 4-4 with 2 Homers. NY 6 ChiSox 1

May 18, 2024 paperbacklou 2024 0

The comparisons between this Yankee team and the 1998 team continue to be uncanny. Just like 1998, game after game the Yank starting pitcher matches or outdoes the performance of the Yankee starter from the game before.

In this one, Luis Gil was back out there — and topped the tremendous performances of Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, Carlos Rodon and Gil himself in the last 5 games — by striking out 14 in 6 innings of 1-run ball.

It broke the Yankee rookie record for strikeouts in a game — which was previously held by — guess who? Orlando Hernandez aka El Duque who set the record in — guess when? 1998.

And guess who threw out the 1st pitch of today’s game? El Duque that’s who.

El Duque was in town to attend the Yankees 44th Annual Homecoming Dinner where he is to be given the “Pride of the Yankees Award.”

Meanwhile, the Yankee offense was provided by Juan Soto — who went 4-4 with 2 homers, Giancarlo Stanton, who hit a homer and had an RBI double, and Jose Trevino, who hit a homer and is having another All Star caliber season.

NY had a 4-1 lead by the 2nd inning and cruised on the pitching of Gil and the bullpen.

Boone’s Thoughts

“Really impressive,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Gil. “He was ok in that 1st inning too, you know. (Gavin) Sheets dumps the one in there and kind of an ‘excuse me’ swing by Benny (Andrew Benintendi) which made the inning a little long for him. But he was really good. As good as his fastball’s been all season, today might have been his best one. He was just pouring it in there, with the presence of the secondary stuff too. Just really impressive.”

The Yanks are now 32-15 and in 1st place by 2 games over Baltimore (which lost). The White Sox fall to 14-32.

1. Gil Great

Luis Gil started off slowly — getting into trouble in the top of the 1st. Gil allowed consecutive singles to Tommy Pham and Gavin Sheets leading off the game, then got a strikeout and lineout — but with 2 outs, Andrew Benintendi doubled in a run.

Gil then walked shortstop Paul DeJong to load the bases with 2 outs, before striking out Korey Lee to end the threat. PHEW.

Many Yankee fans were late to the game as there was a climber on the George Washington Bridge which caused a 1.5-hour traffic delay for those driving in from New Jersey. And so many Yankee fans with tickets to the game were listening to the game in their cars hoping the Yanks wouldn’t get into a deep hole before they even got to the Stadium.

By the 2nd inning Gil showed that would not be happening. Blessed with a 2-1 lead by that time, Gil started motoring:

  • He struck out the first 2 batters of the 2nd, then got a groundout after a Tommy Pham double.
  • He motored through a 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd (strikeout, popout, fly out);
  • He struck out the side 1-2-3 in the 4th;
  • He struck out the side 1-2-3 in the 5th;
  • He struck out the first batter of the 6th before allowing an Eloy Jimenez single — and then ended the day by striking out the last 2 batters.

Gil used 97 to 98 MPH HEAT, with a wicked 90-MPH changeup and a wicked 87-MPH slider to do the damage.

2. Soto HR, Stanton Double Makes It 2-1 NY in 1st

After Gil allowed the run in the top of the 1st, Juan Soto tied the game with a 417-foot homer to right center in the bottom of the inning off White Sox starter Brad Keller, who entered with a 0-1 2.84 record.

Aaron Judge continued the inning by reaching on an infield single, Alex Verdugo grounded out to move Judge to 2nd, and Giancarlo Stanton rocked a double to right center one-bounce off the wall to give NY a 2-1 lead.

3. Trevino HR, Soto RBI Makes It 4-1 NY in 2nd

Jose Trevino ripped a line drive homer to left to make it 3-1 NY in the bottom of the 2nd.


Jon Berti — up next — reached on an error, moved to 2nd on an Anthony Volpe groundout, and scored on a Juan Soto clutch 2-out single to right. NY 4 ChiSox 1.

4. Giancarlo HR Makes It 5-1 NY in 3rd

In the bottom of the 3rd, Giancarlo Stanton rocked another line drive to right center just like the double he hit in the 1st — but this one went over the wall for his 12th homer and a 5-1 Yankee lead.

5. Soto HR Makes It 6-1 NY in 5th

Juan Soto finished the Yankee scoring with a BOMB to right that went into the bleachers — 437 feet away. Oddly enough, some Yankee fans who had been stuck in traffic by the George Washington Bridge had just arrived at the Stadium and were standing on the popcorn line just below where the ball landed — it was a great vantage point to see the sky high bomb come down in the bleachers above. (PS: I was one of those fans.)

6. Burdi & Santana Finish It

Nick Burdi came in to pitch stress-free shutout innings in the 7th and 8th — retiring 6 of the 7 batters he faced.

And Dennis Santana pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 9th for the old ballgame.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401569151

 

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