No-hit for 6 innings, Mayo's 3-run blast flips script in O's win over Yanks
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BALTIMORE -- Coby Mayo wasn’t supposed to be in the Orioles’ starting lineup on Monday. The 24-year-old only became the designated hitter, slotting into the No. 6 hole, after Samuel Basallo was scratched due to left knee discomfort.
It turned out to be an unexpectedly eventful night for Mayo after that.
Following an injury scare on the basepaths in the fifth inning, Mayo clubbed a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh to lift the O’s to a series-opening 3-2 win over the Yankees at Camden Yards. It marked Baltimore’s first win against its American League East rival this season after New York swept a four-game series at Yankee Stadium from May 1-4.
The Orioles (19-23) spoiled a no-hit bid by left-hander Ryan Weathers, who didn’t give up a hit until Adley Rutschman’s leadoff single in the seventh. The 26-year-old southpaw departed after issuing a one-out walk to Tyler O’Neill, giving the O’s runners on first and second.
At that point, the Yankees could have brought in a right-handed reliever, as the Orioles’ next five batters were all right-handed. Instead, they brought in lefty Brent Headrick to face Mayo, who was mired in a 3-for-35 slump going back to April 25. (Dylan Beavers likely would have pinch-hit had New York brought in a righty instead.)
Mayo made the Yanks pay for that decision, pouncing on a 1-1 slider from Headrick and jolting it a Statcast-projected 389 feet over the left-field wall to give Baltimore a 3-2 lead.
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That all happened after Mayo was part of a scary play at second base in the fifth, when he successfully evaded a run down, but not without Yankees shortstop Max Schuemann falling on top of him as he received a throw at the bag. Schuemann’s left cleat landed on the back of Mayo’s right leg, while his body landed on Mayo’s lower back.
Mayo was checked over by assistant athletic trainer Pat Wesley before staying in the game.
The O’s won a game in which their opponent started a left-handed pitcher for the first time this season. They were previously 0-9.