NEW YORK (AP) — Ramón Urías hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning off Gerrit Cole and the Baltimore Orioles withstood Aaron Judge’s two home runs to beat the Yankees 6-4 Monday night and send New York to its season-high third straight loss.
“I thought we grinded out at-bats really well,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “Gerrit Cole’s got great stuff. He’s an ace. He’s an ace for a reason and to be able to put some runs up on the board against him, I’m proud of our hitters.”
Earlier, Major League Baseball suspended Yankees slugger Josh Donaldson for one game and fined him an undisclosed amount after he made multiple references to Jackie Robinson while talking to White Sox star Tim Anderson on Saturday. Shortly before the penalty was announced, the Yankees put Donaldson on the COVID-19 injured list.
Urías started Baltimore’s four-run third with a double down the left field line, then snapped a 4-all tie by lining an 0-1 fastball to the short porch in right field off Cole (4-1).
The Yankees, who began the day with the best record in the majors, are on their first three-game losing streak since dropping seven straight last September. Before getting swept in Sunday’s doubleheader to the White Sox and losing their second straight to the Orioles, the Yankees had won 24 of 29.
“Yesterday, tough doubleheader against a good team and we couldn’t pull anything out there. And tonight we got the offense going early and we’re playing against an Orioles team that scrapped out some runs, got some big time hits with guys on base,” Judge said.
Judge upped his major league-leading home run total to 17, five ahead of Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez and Angels star Mike Trout. Judge hit his 31st and 32nd career homers against Baltimore pitching when he connected in the first and fifth off Jordan Lyles (3-4).
It was Judge’s 20th career multi-homer game, fourth this season and seventh in his career against the Orioles.
Judge reached 20 multi-homer games in his 612th career game. Only Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner at more at this stage of his career when he had 24 multi-homer games through his first 612 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“It’s really special,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I sometimes take it for granted but not right now. He’s a really special player and obviously really carrying us offensively.
Judge hit a solo homer six pitches in, sending a 1-1 offering into Baltimore’s bullpen in left-center. He then hit a tying, two-run homer in the fifth, two innings after Cole allowed four runs.
Cole entered the game with a 1.67 ERA in his previous five outings and allowed a season-worst five runs and seven hits in eight innings. He struck out 11 for his 49th career double-digit strikeout game.
“It’s just a peculiar night,” Cole said. “I think that inning is just a little tough to digest.”
Cole also walked none, marking his 20th career double-digit strikeout game without a walk, the second-most in the majors since 2014.
“A weird night tonight with Gerrit,” Boone said. “He was really for the most part dominant.”
Robinson Chirinos hit an RBI double, Austin Hays hit a two-run single that gave Baltimore its first lead and Ryan Mountcastle capped the third-inning rally with an RBI groundout.
Chirinos also added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Lyles survived becoming the latest Baltimore pitcher to be taken deep by Judge and allowed four runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Félix Bautista followed Lyles’ season-high 117-pitch outing and struck out Giancarlo Stanton with two on after walking Judge.
It was most pitches by a Baltimore starter since Dylan Bundy threw 119 on May 17, 2019, against Cleveland.
Bautista also tossed a perfect eighth and Jorge López converted his fifth save.
Jose Trevino hit an RBI single in the second for New York’s other run following a fielding error by shortstop Chris Owings, who dropped a throw Mountcastle from first on a force play.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Spenser Watkins (right elbow contusion) was placed on the injured list. Watkins exited Sunday’s game three batters hit after being a by a liner by Tampa Bay’s Ji-Man Choi. … The Orioles also recalled RHPs Marcos Diplán, Logan Gillaspie and Beau Sulser from Triple-A Norfolk.
Yankees: An MRI on LHP Aroldis Chapman (left Achilles tendon) came back clean but an injured list stint is still possible. Chapman has allowed an earned run in five appearances. … RHP Chad Green (elbow) said he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week. Green said doctors told him the injury is more of a flexor tear and not UCL tear. Green was hurt pitching Thursday afternoon against Baltimore. … INF Miguel Andújar was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to replace Donaldson.
UP NEXT
Baltimore LHP Bruce Zimmermann (2-2, 3.48 ERA) opposes the Yankees for the fourth time this year. LHP Jordan Montgomery (0-1, 3.35), who is winless in his last 10 starts since Sept. 21, pitches for New York.
(© Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)