Having deflated the Baltimore Orioles’ spirit with an unprecedented show of power, the New York Yankees bid farewell to Camden Yards for this year after going 10-0 in a ballpark that simply could not contain their fence-busting lineup.
Gio Urshela and Kyle Higashioka on Wednesday night each hit two home runs as the Yankees’ long-ball outburst against Baltimore reached historic proportions in a 14-2 blowout that extended New York’s winning streak to eight games.
Urshela had a pair of two-run drives and Higashioka totaled five RBIs with his two shots. It was the first career multihomer game for both players.
The Yankees have 11 players with multihomer games against Baltimore this season, breaking the record of 10 set by San Francisco against the Dodgers in 1958.
“We’ve had a lot of guys coming through for us here,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Cameron Maybin also went deep for the Yankees, who tied a major league record with 16 home runs in a three-game series.
New York have hit 52 homers against the Orioles this season, breaking their own major league mark of 48 against the Kansas City Athletics in 1956.
“We have guys up and down the lineup who can hit the ball, so it is no surprise to see what we did,” Higashioka said. “It was nice to be a part of it.”
All these numbers are bound to increase next week, when the teams meet again for a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.
The sensation that comes with being dominated in a lopsided three-game series reached a melting point for the last-placed Orioles in the middle of the fifth inning.
After manager Brandon Hyde leaned over and said something to Chris Davis, the first baseman lurched in Hyde’s direction and had to be restrained by teammate Mark Trumbo and hitting coach Don Long.
“It was just a disagreement in the dugout. What was said, what we talked about, I’m not going to get into,” Hyde said. “Frustration boils over a little bit when we’re not playing our best baseball the last couple games. Unfortunately, I’m embarrassed that it was caught on camera and people had to see it, but sometimes those things happen.”
Davis has been batting .182 while in the middle of a seven-year, US$161 million contract. He struck out for the 111th time in the third inning and was replaced by a pinch hitter in the fifth.
Davis did not make himself available in the clubhouse, but Trumbo said: “There was a little bit of a disagreement. I think this game was particularly tough and almost nothing went our way so I think everybody was pretty frustrated.”
James Paxton (7-6) allowed one run (a homer by Trey Mancini) and struck out seven over 6-2/3 innings to help the Yankees roll to their 15th straight victory at Camden Yards and 12th in a row overall against the Orioles.
New York hit an impressive 43 home runs in Baltimore this season, a single-season record for most by a visiting team in a ballpark. To put that in perspective, the Orioles totaled 44 runs in those 10 games.
The Orioles are in rebuilding mode and own a miserable 38-76 record, but that did not make the 10-game season sweep any less satisfying for Boone.
“It’s really great and really hard to do,” he said. “It is a sign at how good we’re playing right now.”
Higashioka’s three-run drive off John Means (8-7) in the fourth inning kick-started the New York offense, and by the sixth it was 11-1.
“This team is really good at taking advantage of when pitchers make mistakes, and do some damage,” Higashioka said.
The Orioles allowed 32 runs over the three-game set.
In other results, it was:
‧ Mets 7, Marlins 2
‧ Dodgers 2, Cardinals 1
‧ Braves 11, Twins 7
‧ White Sox 8, Tigers 1
‧ Blue Jays 4, Rays 3
‧ Astros 14, Rockies 3
‧ Brewers 8, Pirates 3
‧ Cubs 10, Athletics 1
‧ Mariners 3, Padres 2
‧ Indians 2, Rangers 0, 1st game
‧ Indians 5, Rangers 1, 2nd game
‧ Nationals 4, Giants 1
‧ Diamondbacks 6, Phillies 1
‧ Royals 4, Red Sox 4, suspended
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely