Didi Gregorius Has A Big Night For New York As Joe Girardi Records 900th Win

Didi Gregorius is not trying to replace the captain Derek Jeter who played shortstop for New York from 1995-2014 but he is doing a pretty great job of it in his third season in the Bronx as New York is trying to get to the postseason and he continued his great play offensively and defensively in game two against Baltimore on Friday. 

 As far as the Yankees are concerned, the American League East race is far from over. New York, which manager Joe Girardi has repeatedly said is not content with the top AL Wild Card spot, used a four-RBI night from Didi Gregorius and another dominant eight-inning start from Luis Severino to win for the sixth time in seven games with Friday's 8-2 victory over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

"We have to bear down in these last couple weeks and go for the playoffs," Gregorius said. "That's what we're shooting for." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

For the O's, it marked their eighth loss in nine games and kept them 5 1/2 behind the Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

Gregorius, who had a sacrifice fly in the first inning, gave the Yanks a lead they'd never relinquish with a two-run homer off Orioles reliever Miguel Castro in the fifth. Gregorius sent an 0-1 pitch over the fence to mark No. 22 on the year. He added his fourth RBI on another sacrifice fly, this one part of a three-run seventh that gave the Yankees some cushion. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

"I was looking fastball and he threw me a slider over the middle," Gregorius said. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

"Look at the night Didi had," Girardi said. "He had a huge night for us tonight. He had four RBIs and continues to play really well. And that's not even talking about the five tough plays he made [in the field] tonight." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

Severino, meanwhile, continued to solidify his ace status, holding Baltimore to just two runs on three hits. The Yankees righty, who entered the day with an AL-best 2.07 second-half ERA, struck out seven en route to his 13th win. The only blemish on Severino's night was Wellington Castillo's homer. The O's catcher took him deep for a two-run blast in the top of the second inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

"He's tough. He's got a plus fastball and a plus slider," Castillo said. "You've just got to go out there and wait for one pitch and try not to miss it, because he doesn't make many mistakes." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

The Yankees also got a homer from Greg Bird, who returned to the starting lineup Friday after missing time with a lower back injury. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

Baltimore's Gabriel Ynoa lasted 4 1/3 innings in his second start as an Oriole. Ynoa surrendered three runs, two earned. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

With the game tied at 2, Ynoa walked Aaron Judge to end his evening. Gregorius sent the second pitch he saw from Castro, an 0-1 slider, over the right-center-field fence to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead with one out in the fifth. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

"That's unfortunate," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Castro's hanging slider. "They're all the right pitch if you get them in the right place. Some just have a better percentage in your favor because of somebody's tendency if you get the ball in the right place, but it seemed like every time we missed a spot, they've really been on it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

A half-inning before Gregorius put the Yankees ahead, the O's threatened with a two-out double by Pedro Alvarez. But Severino struck out rookie Austin Hays to end the inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

Every time the manager gives me the ball, I want to take advantage of the opportunity and show that I can pitch now and that I can pitch in the future as well." -- Ynoa, on auditioning for a potential starting role next spring "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

"To be a championship team, you have to have that. There's always going to be those few guys who get a ton of attention, but it takes more than that. It takes a lot more than that to win." -- Girardi, on how the team wins even when Judge and Gary Sanchez aren't headliners "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

The Yankees' Matt Holliday was 2-for-4 batting out of the eighth spot in the lineup. Holliday hadn't hit that low in a batting order since his rookie season of 2004. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/254503748/didi-gregorius-leads-yankees-over-orioles/

With the win, New York improves to 81-66 while with the loss Baltimore dropped to 72-76 on the season. New York is now three games back of their rival Boston who is leading the American League East with a record of 84-63 with their route of Tampa Bay Friday by a score of 13-6. 

Baltimore and New York will play the third game of their four-game series Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. 

Jeremy Hellickson who has a record of 8-9 with a 5.23 earn run average will get the start for Baltimore. Hellickson is coming off a quality start on Sept. 10 but did allow two home runs and continues to post low strikeout totals. Over his last five outings, the right-hander has been unable to strikeout more than two batters. He will go up against New York left-hander Jordan Montgomery who has a record of 7-7 with a 4.24 earn run average. Montgomery lasted 3 1/3 innings in his most recent outing, against the Rangers, allowing three runs on three hits. He has not completed five innings in his last three starts. https://www.mlb.com/gameday/orioles-vs-yankees/2017/09/16/492312#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492312

First pitch is set for 4:05 pm. The game will be televised on MASN and Yes." according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/orioles-vs-yankees/2017/09/16/492312#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=492312