The Home Run The Story In The Opener For New York In Baltimore
Some games the long ball isn’t going your way and the team has to find other ways to score but in the opening game in Baltimore the long ball sure was working for the guys that dawn the pinstripes and who is leading the American League East.
Monday’s game was a teeter-totter one -- it featured record-setters, streak-enders and home run hitters. Most importantly, when the dust settled, Aroldis Chapman had struck out the tying run at the plate, helping the Yankees to a 9-6 win over the Orioles.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
The home run -- of which there were seven combined -- that stood out the most was Mike Tauchman’s first of two on the night. His opposite-field long ball in a three-run Yankees fifth inning set the record for the most homers (30) any visiting team has ever hit in an away ballpark in a season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
The Yankees would make that total 32 by night’s end, with two more games to come in Baltimore this season.The pair from Tauchman sandwiched Mike Ford’s first career go-ahead homer in the eighth that solidified the victory. As if the Yankees’ next man up Cinderella story needed a new chapter, it got one on Monday night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
“We just keep going, man,” Tauchman said. “We just keep going.””according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
Both Tauchman and Ford’s eighth-inning blasts came after the Orioles tried to go lefty-lefty on three of the next four batters after tying it up with a five-run sixth. What unfolded was Orioles reliever Paul Fry recording one out, against righty Austin Romine. Ford then hit the go-ahead homer, Brett Gardner singled and Tauchman’s second of the night added insurance.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
“I think hungry is how I would describe it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of his team’s competitive fire. “This is a hungry group that does a really good job of playing every night and competing.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
All the long balls Monday helped the Yankees work toward another goal. Their 41 total homers against the Orioles this season sit just seven back of the record for most home runs against a team in a single season, which was set by the 1956 Yankees against the Kansas City A’s.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
The work came Monday without the aid of typical Orioles tormentors Gary Sanchez and Gleyber Torres, who own a combined 16 homers in 31 total games at Camden Yards. The former awaits a rehab assignment while the latter returned from an injury scare Sunday night to go 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
“That’s been a theme for us all year. It can come from a lot of different places,” Boone said. “And the bottom of the order is a place where we’ve gotten really good production and a place that we feel really confident with our guys.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
And not to be forgotten -- since he was one of the few not to homer -- was the night from Breyvic Valera, who only had a spot in the lineup with Torres at designated hitter and Gio Urshela resting from his own bumps and bruises. Valera’s offense was arguably most important, as his two-run triple kick-started a three-run fifth and ended an otherwise efficient night for Orioles starter Gabriel Ynoa. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
It was the second career three-bagger for Valera. His first came as a member of the Orioles last season … at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
“When guys get up here, they know they are going to play, they know the team is rolling,” Tauchman said. “And culturally, when you’re here, you’re going to be counted on and you have the full support of the team.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
So while there was no weariness at the plate following a late flight after Sunday Night Baseball, the same can’t be said about Masahiro Tanaka on mound.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
Boone said Tanaka struggled with splitter command and perhaps fatigue, which the right-hander later downplayed. Looking to get off on the right foot after allowing 14 runs across 7 1/3 innings his prior two outings, Tanaka departed with another five earned runs to his name. Four came in the sixth inning alone, when Tanaka was pulled after recording a single out -- a sac fly to Chris Davis. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-set-record-for-most-homers-at-opposing-park
Meanwhile Baltimore suffered a setback in the opening game of the three game series.
When he strode to the plate in the ninth inning on Monday, Orioles shortstop Jonathan Villar had no idea he was a mere hit away from history. Never mind that most of the 20,151 on hand at Oriole Park were well aware, many of whom stayed to the end of Baltimore’s 9-6 loss to the Yankees to witness Villar’s last at-bat. But nobody told Villar, who had tripled, doubled and homered in his four previous at-bats, about the exclusive club he was on the verge of entering. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
It wasn’t until Villar arrived at first safely that first-base coach Arnie Beyeler delivered his congratulations, and the news. By dunking a single into right off Aroldis Chapman, Villar had completed the first cycle of his career, the first by an Oriole in nearly 11 years and the fifth in the Majors this season. He left Camden Yards with the baseball and lineup card to commemorate an accomplishment that stunned Villar in the moment he achieved it. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
“It’s unbelievable,” Villar said. “I don’t pay attention to that, and nobody said anything.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
Afterwards, Villar could only guess his teammates were trying to avoid a jinx by not telling him, like during a potential no-hitter. Perhaps the night’s circumstances played a role also, as the Orioles spent the evening making history on several fronts, not all of them positive. Despite clawing back multiple times -- the last on Villar’s game-tying homer in the sixth -- Baltimore allowed multiple homers for the 10th consecutive game, becoming the first team in MLB history to do so. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
On Monday they allowed five, the most critical being Mike Ford’s go-ahead shot off Paul Fry in the eighth. The Orioles were also frustrated when Brandon Hyde’s challenge failed to overturn home plate umpire Ed Hickock’s ruling that Jace Peterson was out at home on the front end of a double-steal in the fourth, erasing what would’ve been the go-ahead run. The loss was their 13th straight to the Yankees at Oriole Park dating back to 2018. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
But that changed after Villar clanged a first-pitch slider from Tanaka off the center-field wall, taking third when the ball ricocheted away from Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner. He scored on Trey Mancini’s RBI single a batter later. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
Villar’s three triples this season tie both the team high and his personal best, set previously in 2016. The Orioles as a team have 18, and they are on pace for their highest three-bagger total since 2008. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
“He had a great game,” Hyde said. “He did a ton of things offensively, just had a really nice baseball game. It shows you the tools that he has. They’re obviously extremely exciting. When he’s going well, he’s a game changer.”
Inning: 5
Pitcher: Tanaka
Result: Double
“according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
Villar’s third hit looked like a routine single off the bat, before he noticed how Aaron Judge was slow fielding the ball in right field. That’s when Villar turned on the jets, reaching second in 3.67 seconds, per Statcast, ahead of Judge’s lackadaisical throw. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
“That’s my game right there,” Villar said. “I never stopped running. The manager tells me all the time: ‘You need to run all the time, you never know.’” “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
Inning: 6
Pitcher: Tommy Kahnle
Result: 2-run home run
“according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
The calculus had changed by the bottom of the sixth, when the Orioles scored five times to chase Tanaka and claw all the way back. Jace Peterson’s two-run homer and Chris Davis’ sac fly set the stage for Villar, who savored his 415-foot game-tying shot off Kahnle. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
Villar skipped up the first base line, bat in hand, shouting words of celebration at the Orioles’ dugout, while Kahnle momentarily took issue. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
“That’s me being happy right there,” Villar said. “It felt like we were starting again, we were continuing to play hard. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
Inning: 9
Pitcher: Chapman
Result: SingleAll of which brings us to the ninth, and a situation not unfamiliar to the Orioles. It was as recently as July 20 that Santander, in a 16-7 loss to Boston, finished a double away from the cycle by grounding out in his final at-bat. “according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
This time, Villar fought off a 99.5 mph fastball from Chapman to complete the feat. At an exit velocity of 72.2 mph, it was by far Villar’s softest hit of the night, but the one he’ll cherish the most. Villar said he plans to give the baseball to his three-year-old daughter, Kaylee Helena.”according to https://www.mlb.com/orioles/news/jonathan-villar-hits-for-cycle-vs-yankees
New York and Baltimore continue their series on Tuesday night with game three at Camden Yards where New York will look to win the series while Baltimore will aim to bounce back and even up the series.