BALTIMORE — Luis Severino allowed one hit in six innings, and Jose Trevino became the first New York catcher with a home run this year when he hit a three-run drive in the fourth to lift the surging Yankees over the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 Monday night.
Josh Donaldson and Anthony Rizzo added back-to-back solo homers in the ninth for the Yankees, who won for the 19th time in 22 games. New York (26-9) is off to one of the best 35-game starts in franchise history. Only the 1939 and 1928 teams, at 28-7, were better at this point.
Anthony Santander homered twice for Baltimore’s only runs, but the Orioles managed only one other hit in the game.
Kyle Bradish (1-2) allowed four runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings in his fourth career start. He walked three and struck out six.
The Yankees left the bases loaded in the first, then Baltimore squandered a chance to take the lead after Joey Gallo misplayed Cedric Mullins’ fly ball in left field for a three-base error. After a walk to Trey Mancini, the Orioles had men on first and third with nobody out, but Mancini was doubled off first when second baseman Gleyber Torres made a diving catch on Santander’s soft liner.
New York took a 1-0 lead in the third on Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI double. With two on in the fourth, Trevino’s fly to right hit the pole for the first homer this season by a Yankees catcher.
Donaldson had three hits and a walk to extend his on-base streak to 22 games.
New York’s starting pitchers have allowed three runs or fewer in 33 of 35 starts this season.
Santander homered from the left side of the plate off Severino in the fourth, then from the right side off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth.
Rizzo, Stanton and Aaron Judge — who had the night off — are the first trio of Yankees hitters to reach double digits in home runs by the team’s 35th game.
After playing 13 straight games, Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to vie Judge the day off. It is a preventative maintenance day, Boone said.
“I was kind of targeting one day on this trip. I considered the [Sunday] day game [in Chicago], and he kind of powered through that. …” Boone said. “Just kind of decided this was a good day.”
He explained that between the day game, then traveling to Baltimore for a night game that Judge would get a day and a half to rest.
Judge is leading the majors with 12 home runs and is slashing a ridiculous .296/.369/.632 with a 194 OPS+.
This is part of the workload management that the Yankees hope will not only keep Judge healthy this season, but Giancarlo Stanton and the rest of their roster.
Considering they are in the middle of playing 23 games in 22 days — their next scheduled off day isn’t until May 30 — Boone is keeping an eye out to give most of his lineup a day here and there.
“I think they can all use one [as] we’re going through this stretch,” Boone said. “Judge started this stretch by playing in the doubleheader, so I mean, anytime we do a stretch [like this], I think they can use [the off day]. I think it’s beneficial and serves them well moving forward.”
The Yankees extended their advantage atop the AL East to 5 1/2 games over Tampa Bay. That matches the crosstown Mets for baseball’s largest division lead.
A loss of charm: Boone said the new wall in left field at Camden Yards — which is higher and farther back — takes away at least some of the ballpark’s charm. The previous wall put fans a little closer to the action.
“I don’t think it’s any secret or in my opinion that it’s one of the most beautiful parks in the league, and it still is,” Boone said. “To me, that makes it a little less.” … Orioles OF Austin Hays (hand) missed a fourth straight game. SS Jorge Mateo (left shoulder, chest) was out as well.
A New York Daily News report is included in this story.
