Aaron Judge scored on a base hit by Giancarlo Stanton in the third inning and exited an inning later with an injured left hand Tuesday night as the host New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 in the opener of a three-game series between the top two teams in the American League.
Judge was hit on the left hand near his pinky and knuckle on a 1-2 fastball by Baltimore starter Albert Suarez (3-1) in the third. He stayed in the game after being briefly checked out, slid into third base on a base hit by Alex Verdugo and scored the Yankees’ second run on Stanton’s base hit.
After scoring, Judge headed to the clubhouse and took his position in center field for the top of the fourth. But Trent Grisham batted for the slugger in the bottom half.
After the game, Judge said X-rays and a CT scan revealed no damage.
New York’s Nestor Cortes (4-5) dodged some early trouble and allowed five hits in six scoreless innings. Cortes struck out six, walked none and also threw up and in against Gunnar Henderson in the sixth before getting the Baltimore shortstop on a groundout to second.
Anthony Volpe hit an RBI single in the second for New York’s first run. Gleyber Torres lifted a sacrifice fly in the third inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by DJ LeMahieu in the fifth after being hit in the hand by reliever Keegan Akin.
Michael Tonkin and Luke Weaver pitched a scoreless inning apiece for the Yankees. Clay Holmes allowed a two-run homer to Anthony Santander in the ninth before finishing up.
Suarez allowed three runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and issued a career-high five walks.
The Orioles avoided getting blanked for the third time this season. Baltimore also lost Jordan Westburg to left hip discomfort after the top of the second inning.
Westburg was injured on a collision in the basepath near third base with Juan Soto when the Yankees’ right fielder was called for interference for the final out of the opening inning.
–Field Level Media
