Baltimore Orioles lose to NY Yankees 6-1, suffering their first AL East series defeat since early 2023

BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Orioles’ offense was once again unconvincing in their 6-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday at Camden Yards.

The Yankees became the first AL East team to win a series against the Orioles since April 2023.

In two games of this series, the Orioles have scored only two runs.

Ryan Mountcastle had the O’s only RBI on Saturday.

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back home runs – both over 425 feet – in the fifth inning to lead the Yankees.

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.

“That we got the first run early and then he had a great at-bat against a strong pitcher who made a mistake and let the ball out of the stadium,” Judge said. “That was not only great for us, but also for (Luis) Gil on the mound, who came out there with some confidence.”

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

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.

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.

Gil set a season high with 39% sliders and the Orioles managed 2 of 14 runs against him, along with five strikeouts and one walk.

“It was a pretty tough battle for him, which shows how good he can be even if he’s not perfect,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Six innings where he limited the team to one run.”

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.

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