Apr 29, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge slugged his American League-leading 10th home run and scored four times as the New York Yankees continued their roll with a 12-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
Judge became the first AL player to reach double digits when he homered into the New York bullpen beyond the center field wall on a 1-and-0 pitch from Jayson Aquino. Before hitting fourth home run against the Orioles, Judge drew two walks and singled.
Brett Gardner and Austin Romine combined for three home runs and nine RBIs for the Yankees, but those became overshadowed by Judge’s home run. The contributions from their leadoff and ninth-place hitters helped the Yankees match their best 22-game start since 2010 and win for the 14th time in the last 17 games.
Baltimore lost its first series of the season as Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — and five hits in 3 1/3 innings. It was the second straight start Jimenez failed to get past the fourth.
Mets 5, Nationals 3
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael Conforto homered twice and drove in three runs as New York beat first-place Washington, winning for the second straight day after a six-game losing streak.
It was the first career two-homer game for Conforto (3-for-4), whose solo shot in the eighth off left-handed reliever Enny Romero gave the Mets a 4-2 lead.
Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman, who had three hits and three RBIs, hit a solo homer in the eighth off Addison Reed to trim the lead to 4-3. Zimmerman has 226 career homers, second most in Montreal/Washington franchise history. Nationals starter and loser Stephen Strasburg (2-1) gave up six hits and three runs with just two strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.
Blue Jays 4, Rays 1
TORONTO — Justin Smoak hit a two-run homer, Francisco Liriano pitched into the sixth inning and Toronto ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Tampa Bay.
The teams have split the first two games of the season with the rubber match to be played Sunday. Liriano (2-2) allowed four hits, four walks and one run and had six strikeouts in five-plus innings. Struggling closer Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save in five opportunities.
Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese (1-1) allowed five hits, three walks and four runs (three earned) while striking out four in seven innings.
White Sox 6, Tigers 4 (10 innings)
DETROIT — Melky Cabrera hit a home run to lead off the 10th inning and Chicago extended its winning streak to six games by beating slumping Detroit at Comerica Park.
Cabrera’s first homer of the season off Justin Wilson (1-1) gave closer David Robertson (1-0) the victory. Robertson blew a ninth-inning save opportunity by giving up two runs, then pitched a scoreless 10th.
Jose Abreu blasted his first two homers of the season for the White Sox (13-9). Victor Martinez had a homer and two RBIs for the Tigers (11-12), who have lost four straight to drop below .500 for the first time this season.
Twins at Royals, ppd. rain
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The game between Minnesota and Kansas City was postponed because of rain.
The game has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 1, as part of a day-night doubleheader.
Reds at Cardinals, ppd. rain
ST. LOUIS — The Cincinnati-St. Louis game was postponed due to severe weather.
The two teams will make up the game at Busch Stadium at a date and time yet to be determined.
