Yankees, Orioles turn up the heat in AL East battle after Aaron Judge is plunked

[ad_1]

NEW YORK – Aaron Judge was angry first, nervous next.

“I was definitely (ticked),’’ said the Yankees captain, upset at being drilled in the left hand, and worried at the potential for damage – both to his and the team’s season.

So, it was “a big relief’’ to Judge when X-rays and a CT scan came back negative following a 4-2 win against the Baltimore Orioles, newly cast as villains at Yankee Stadium.

This three-game series between the AL East-leading Yanks (51-24) and the young, talented O’s (47-25) already had an edge to it, with Baltimore claiming three of four games earlier this year at Camden Yards.

Now, it’s got a little extra heat following Tuesday night’s opener before 47,429 fans.

Even with an achy left hand, Judge is expecting to be in Wednesday’s lineup for Gerrit Cole’s long-awaited return to the rotation.

Asked if might miss a game or two due to some residual swelling, Judge replied: “I hope not. Especially against this team.’’

Aaron Judge’s reaction to the Orioles pitching up and in

Before exiting in the fourth inning, Judge had singled in his first at-bat – continuing a torrid stretch that began once the Yankees left Charm City.

Since May 2, Judge was batting .387 with 20 homers, 46 RBI and a 1.439 OPS in his last 40 games entering Tuesday night.

So, it’s no surprise to Judge that in his second time up, Albert Suarez came in too high and tight with a 94-mph fastball.

“There were a couple balls up and in. But that’s part of it, they like to throw in,’’ said Judge, whose immediate reaction could be interpreted as a show of intimidation.

As he winced in pain, Judge wandered close enough to Suarez to wonder if the 6-foot-7 slugger would engage in some way with the Orioles’ right-hander.

“You really don’t know where you are once you get hit like that,’’ said Judge, who just slowly made his way to first base. “I kind of got twisted around there a little bit.’’

But Judge had clearly stated his anger, and the Yankees were just as agitated.

Alex Verdugo gets his point across

On the bench, Alex Verdugo stated his displeasure at Suarez with remarks toward O’s first baseman Ryan Mountcastle – though Verdugo finished with a smile.

Mountcastle is a friend, and “I was kind of like busting him up, messing around a little bit,’’ said Verdugo.

And yet, “we don’t take what happened lightly,’’ said Verdugo. “Those are our guys, and obviously the captain is a big one for us. None of us are too pleased about it.’’

Verdugo felt it was a pitch that got away, but “if you can’t go in, don’t go in that day,’’ he said of Suarez’s control. “Just one of those things, we’ll see what happens.’’

Yankees’ Nestor Cortes answers back

Things got a little more interesting in the fifth, after Gleyber Torres was struck in the right hand by a Keegan Akin pitch.

In the sixth, Yankees starter Nestor Cortes knocked Orioles’ young star Gunnar Henderson off the plate with an up-and-in fastball.

Next up, Anthony Santander jumped away from a pitch at his lower leg, which went as a passed ball.

The Yankees were ahead 4-0 at the time, and Cortes – who threw six scoreless innings, improving to 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA in nine career starts vs. Baltimore – naturally said there was no intent there.

Juan Soto had agreed that the Orioles had no intent to harm, either, but “it’s a little frustrating’’ when Judge gets plunked, “and then you see Gleyber get hit in the hand, too.