Sonny Gray Has Good Start As The New York Offense Backs Him Up In The Win Over Baltimore

Sonny Gray has had an up and down season so far in 2018 but on Friday night of what is a now a three -game series the right hander not only had a good start but he also received run support to go with it which New York struggled to give him last season when he was traded to New York  at the trade deadline on July 31st 2017.

Aaron Judge continued to torment Orioles pitching with his team-leading 16th home run, and Greg Bird legged out his first career triple in support of Sonny Gray, who hurled six solid innings in the Yankees' 4-1 victory on Friday evening at Camden Yards. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

Judge slugged a solo blast in the seventh inning, two frames after Bird gave New York the lead with a drive to deep center field off Andrew Cashner. Gleyber Torres and Austin Romine also drove in runs, and Aroldis Chapman recorded his 13th save as the Yankees (36-17) improved to a season-high 19 games over .500. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonn

"It's always important getting the first one, especially here in Baltimore," Judge said. "They can hit homers with the best of them, so for us to come out here and get this first win, now it's time to move on and get the next one tomorrow." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

Gray dispatched the Orioles to their sixth consecutive loss as he continues to alternate good and bad starts, limiting Baltimore to Manny Machado's first-inning homer -- his 17th -- among four hits. Gray walked none and struck out six in a 90-pitch effort, picking up his third victory in five outings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

Like I've said every time, I feel good," Gray said. "It's only a matter of time before it starts clicking consistently. I've had some good outings in these last five or six, but I've kind of sprinkled in some bad ones. For me, it's just all about being consistent. I've got to limit the ones when I'm not commanding the strike zone. I feel confident, I feel good." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

Judge's homer, a 438-foot drive to left field, came off reliever Tanner Scott after Cashner permitted three runs and nine hits over six innings. Judge has hit safely in all five of the Yankees' games against Baltimore this year and has hit 13 career homers off O's pitching, his most against any opponent. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

Torres put New York on the board in the third inning, dropping a run-scoring single into center field, and a fifth-inning drive tangled up center fielder Adam Jones for Bird's first triple since 2015 with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

"I knew I hit it well," Bird said. "Luckily, he didn't catch it. That was the biggest thing." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

Romine extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a line-drive double to right field in the sixth that sailed over Joey Rickard and allowed Didi Gregorius to trot home from second base. New York threatened again in the eighth but was turned aside. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

"I was hoping we could squeeze a few more out there, but for the most part up and down we had pretty good at-bats," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We gave ourselves enough opportunities, and we were able to break through just enough." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

MOMENT THAT MATTERED
After Chad Green hurled a scoreless seventh, Dellin Betances made things interesting in the eighth, loading the bases with one out via two walks and a hit-by-pitch. A mound visit by pitching coach Larry Rothschild settled Betances, who recovered to strike out Jonathan Schoop and retire Chris Davis on a fly ball to center field."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

"The thing with Dellin is, he's so difficult to hit that, as long as he gets back in the strike zone, I know he can wiggle his way out," Boone said."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Torres was thinking three bases out of the box when he ripped a fifth-inning liner into the left-field corner, and very likely would have made it, had his left shoe not popped off in the middle of the baseline. As it was, the play was close enough for the Yankees' video team to give it a serious look, but Boone eventually spun his right index finger to continue play."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

"We were over there going, 'You ever run out of your shoes before?'" Boone said. "I didn't even see the throw come in, because I saw the shoe go flying. I was just hoping he could stay on his feet. We considered challenging until the end and got the word to not challenge. Good at-bat, first out at third there when he almost fell down. We can laugh about it now." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974

With the win, New York improves to 36-17 and is now 0.5 games back of their rival Boston who is leading the American League East. Meanwhile with the loss, Baltimore drops to 17-40 on the regular season. "according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/standings

UP NEXT
Masahiro Tanaka (6-2, 4.62 ERA) will try for his third consecutive victory on Saturday, drawing the start as the Yankees continue their series with the Orioles at 4:05 p.m. ET. Tanaka struck out eight, one shy of his season high, in his last outing on Sunday vs. the Angels. Kevin Gausman (3-4, 4.31 ERA) will start for the Orioles. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/bats-back-sonny-gray-as-yankees-beat-orioles/c-279331974