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The Yankees beat the Orioles, 8-4, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, spoiling Baltimore's home opener. >> Box score
Six things to know about Thursday's game..
1 ) After cruising in his first start in pinstripes, James Paxton's second start did not get off the ground as well. Paxton coughed up a lead-off homer, balked in a run, and then uncorked a wild pitch to score the third run of the first inning. He settled across the next three frames, but then allowed a two-out run-scoring single in the fifth. Paxton's effort was enough to get the win with a final line of 5 1/3 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 9 K
2 ) Gleyber Torres drove in four runs courtesy of his first two home runs of the season, with the second a three-run two-out bomb to give the Yankees the lead in the sixth inning. Torres, who also doubled and singled, is hitting .357 on the season as he looks to build off a fine rookie season. His ability to grow from last season has become even more crucial as the Yankees try to stay above water with all the injuries that have piled up.
3 ) Gary Sanchez hit the ball hard twice in his first two at-bats (109.2 mph and 107.5 mph), but got nothing out of the barreled balls. He then crushed a ball (109.3 mph) to dead center field for his third home run of the season. Sanchez fought some bad luck all of last season and has had his share in 2019. If some of these hard hit balls fall more often, Sanchez's production could revert back to his 2017 level.
4 ) Tommy Kahnle needed to save some work for the normal backend of the bullpen formation and did a fine job, tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball.
5 ) Luke Voit had been absolutely abysmal at the plate since Opening Day, going 2-for-22, before cranking a three-run homer in the ninth inning. Voit, who may have been feeling the effects of a hit by pitch to the top of the hand earlier in the week, has to build on the homer if he intends on remaining in the middle of the Yankees lineup.
6 ) Aaron Judge had a day to forget, striking out four times in five at-bats. Judge has now struck out 14 times this season and is still in search of his first home run of the year.
Highlights
What's next
The Yankees look for their first win streak of the season against the O's on Saturday. It will be J.A. Happ against Dylan Bundy at 7:05 p.m.