Things were not looking good for the Yankees in the opener of their weekend series at Camden Yards. They would have to face the Baltimore Orioles without Gleyber Torres (COVID), Giancarlo Stanton (quad tightness), Aaron Hicks (wrist, could need season-ending surgery), Rougned Odor (knee) or, at least to start the game, Gio Urshela (knee).
That meant a starting lineup with Luke Voit (who hadn't yet gotten a hit since coming off the Injured List) at 1st base, Tyler Wade (batting .200) at shortstop, Miguel Andujar (.059) at 3rd base, Clint Frazier (.146) in left field, Brett Gardner (.171) in center field, and both catchers in the lineup: Kyle Higashioka (seriously cooled off at .196) behind the plate and Gary Sanchez (.188) as the DH.
With the apparent return of the Yankees' annual injury crisis, they would need Corey Kluber to be at his best. He wasn't. He only went 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks, with 6 strikeouts.
Fortunately, the makeshift lineup had Aaron Judge in right field, and he hit home runs in the 1st and 4th innings. But that was all the Yankees got for the 1st 6, trailing 4-2.
Then, with 1 out in the 7th, Miggy and Higgy set up a biggie. Andujar singled and Higashioka drew a walk. Aaron Boone realized that Wade would be useless, and took a chance that Urshela would be ready. He was, drilling a home run to center field. We're nearly a quarter of the way into the season, and that was the Yankees' 1st pinch-hit home run in it.
Chad Green pitched the 7th. Wandy Peralta cruised through the 8th, but allowed a leadoff single in the 9th. Knowing he could need Aroldis Chapman the next 2 games, Boone called on Jonathan Loaisiga to close the game, and he did.
Yankees 5, Orioles 4. WP: Kluber (3-2). SV: Loaisiga (2). LP: Travis Lakins (1-4).
The series continues tonight. Urshela should be available. Stanton might be. Odor is eligible to come off the Injured List, but probably won't. Domingo German starts against Jorge Lopez.