Benches clear in ninth as Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge lead Yankees to series-opening win over Orioles

BALTIMORE — With a 2-5 record against the Orioles this year and a 7-18 mark over their last 25 games, the Yankees wanted to start their last series of the first half on a positive note.

They did that with a 4-1 win on Friday, though the game ended with animosity after Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad in the head during a rainy ninth inning. That led to a benches-clearing skirmish before the final two outs.

Prior to the extracurriculars, Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge led the charge at Camden Yards.

Cole did his part by recording the longest start of his young season. The ace allowed just one earned run over six innings. He also totaled five hits, one walk, seven strikeouts and a season-high 106 pitches.

While Cole used his fastball 46% of the time, he also leaned heavily on his cutter (24%) and knuckle-curve (20%). The three pitches combined for 11 whiffs against the Orioles.

Baltimore’s one run against Cole came on a Ramón Urías triple, which Juan Soto couldn’t chase down in the second inning.

Judge responded to that run with his major league-leading 33rd home run of the season, a solo shot off of Cade Povich in the third inning. It was Judge’s first dinger since July 2.

The early MVP candidate had been in a bit of a funk between then and Friday, hitting .129 with zero extra-base hits over eight games in between. Judge added four walks to his Friday performance.

While Judge provided the muscle, the Yankees started scoring in the second inning with the bottom of their order after an Anthony Santander error turned an Anthony Volpe single into a three-bagger. Jose Trevino then doubled Volpe home before the catcher scored on a Jahmai Jones single.

Soto added his own star power and an insurance run in the ninth, knocking an RBI single.

The Yankees had some other chances to put runs on the board, but they went 3 for 11 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base. Still, the offensive output was enough for a divisional win.

Now 57-39, the Yankees will look for another victory with Luis Gil starting on Saturday. Grayson Rodriguez will take the ball for the O’s.

The Bombers have failed to win eight straight series. A win on Saturday would end that streak.