Orioles will finally lose a series against an AL East opponent after losing to the Yankees 6-1

BALTIMORE – Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit two consecutive home runs in the fifth inning – both over 425 feet – and the New York Yankees beat Baltimore 6-1 on Saturday, becoming the first AL East team to win a series against the Orioles since April 2023.

Baltimore has a 16-0-6 record in the last 22 series within the division, but New York (58-39) has won the first two games of this series at Camden Yards. The Orioles (57-38) still lead the division in points percentage, but the winner of Sunday’s series finale will be in first place before the All-Star break.

New York had been winless in eight series and lost seven since winning three of four games in Kansas City from June 10-13 – the last time the Yankees had won consecutive games.

Austin Wells hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give New York a 4-0 lead. Soto’s 426-foot solo hit in the fifth inning made it 5-1, and Judge followed with a 431-foot hit to center field. It was his 34th home run of the season, the most by a Yankees player before the All-Star break.

Roger Maris hit 33 home runs in his record-breaking year in 1961, and Judge hit an AL record of 62 two years ago.

Soto and Judge hit the Yankees’ only other consecutive home runs this year, on May 24 against San Diego’s Yu Darvish.

Baltimore has lost five games in a row, scoring only four runs.

Luis Gil (10-5) allowed one run and five hits in six innings, rebounding nicely after failing to make it past the second inning against Baltimore last month and losing his previous four starts.

Grayson Rodriguez (11-4) allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings.

Judge reached base in his first eight appearances in the Series. He hit four home runs and walked on Friday night, then started Saturday’s game with a walk, a double and a home run.

A day after Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad was hit in the helmet by a pitch and the benches were cleared, there appeared to be no hostilities between the teams.

The Yankees were the last AL East team to win a series against Baltimore, winning two of three games at Camden Yards on April 7-9, 2023.

TRAINING ROOM

Yankees: New York placed C Jose Trevino on the 10-day IL because of a strained left quadriceps.

Orioles: Kjerstad was originally in the starting lineup, but was outrighted by Baltimore and placed on the seven-day injured list due to a concussion.

NEXT

Carlos Rodón (9-7) will be on the mound for the Yankees as they attempt to sweep Baltimore’s Dean Kremer (4-5) on Sunday.

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