Orioles will try again to stop Torres, Yankees

The Baltimore Orioles have not been able to figure out a way to deal with New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres.

Torres homered twice Monday in New York's 10-7 victory over the host Orioles, and while a three-run shot in the ninth from catcher Gary Sanchez snapped a tie and gave New York the win, the infielder just keeps crushing the young Orioles pitching staff.

Baltimore will need to figure out something to do against Torres when the teams meet again on Tuesday night.

In the first game of this four-game series, Torres hit his ninth and 10th homers of the season. Eight of those long balls have come against the Orioles.

"We just have to do a better job of pitching to him," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.

Overall, Torres has posted 11 homers and 21 RBI in 20 career games versus Baltimore. He's had three multi-homer games this season and yes, they've all come against the Orioles.

Torres hit three homers in last week's doubleheader sweep of the Orioles in New York, but he seemed to shrug that off afterward.

"I'm still a contact hitter," Torres said with a laugh.

The Baltimore pitching staff now has allowed a major-league-high 97 homers in just 47 games. Torres and the Yankees still have a powerful lineup despite their injury problems, although New York did get some good news in that area Monday.

Shortstop Didi Gregorius (Tommy John surgery) played five innings and went 2-for-4 with a walk in extended spring training Monday. Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1-for-3 with a homer Monday in the first game of his rehab assignment with high Class-A Tampa.

Manager Aaron Boone told the media that Gregorius is moving along in his rehab, and various reports have him getting back to the Yankees soon.

"A couple more days down there and then, hopefully, get transferred over (to Tampa)," Boone said. "But a big step, obviously in the return for Didi."

Meanwhile, Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar had surgery on his partially torn right labrum. He's expected to miss the rest of 2019 but be ready for spring training.

The Orioles shifted Nate Karns, who is out due to a right forearm strain, to the 60-day injured list. They optioned right-hander Yefry Ramirez and selected the contract of right-hander Josh Lucas from Triple-A Norfolk for the second time this year.

Baltimore's pitching staff is in big need of help. In Monday's loss, the Orioles got a strong effort from starter Andrew Cashner, who has been consistent throughout the season.

He gave up three runs in six innings and left with a 6-3 lead. However, the bullpen could not hold it and gave up seven runs in three innings.

Closer Mychal Givens allowed two homers, one to Torres and the deciding three-run shot to Sanchez in the ninth and blew the save opportunity.

Hyde also talked about how the Orioles simply need to make better fundamental plays. In Monday's game there were throws to the wrong base, throws that missed the cutoff man, a missed catch on a popup, helping the Yankees rally.

"What you hope for us is that they learn from the mistakes," Hyde said.

Domingo German (8-1, 2.50 ERA) starts for the Yankees against Baltimore's David Hess (1-5, 5.58). German has won his past five starts, including beating the Orioles in his last time out, in the second game of the doubleheader in New York last Wednesday.

German is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in his career against the Orioles in four games. He is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts vs. Baltimore this season.

Hess has struggled since his first start. He has allowed 14 homers in just 40 1/3 innings this season -- including four in six innings during his last start, which came against New York, also during that doubleheader.

Hess is 0-2 with a 5.54 ERA this season versus the Yankees in three games, including two starts. Hess made one other start against the Yankees last season as a rookie. He wasn't involved in the decision, and his career ERA against New York is 5.00.

--Field Level Media