BALTIMORE – The Yankees have struggled to score on the road this season. Paul Goldschmidt stepped into the box ready to change that.
Goldschmidt belted a leadoff homer on Trevor Rogers’ first pitch and Trent Grisham added a three-run shot that highlighted a five-run third inning, powering the Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday evening at Camden Yards.
“Winning and getting hits, all that’s a lot more fun than when you’re losing or getting outs,” Goldschmidt said. “We all know this game has a lot of ups and downs. I think the mindset is to just show up and work hard, and enjoy it – it’s called a game for a reason.”
New York snapped its four-game losing streak behind a solid outing from Will Warren, who bounced back from his roughest start of the season by holding Baltimore to two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
“It’s just getting ahead; the answer is pretty simple,” said Warren, who scattered four hits, striking out six with one walk. “When you fall behind, it just makes our job a lot harder.”
Having permitted a season-high six runs last time out against the Rangers, Warren kept Baltimore off the board until the sixth, when Samuel Basallo and Tyler O’Neill notched run-scoring hits.
Warren picked up his infield in the third, pitching around an error and another wild throw by inducing a flyout and double-play grounder to escape a bases-loaded, none-out jam. He said Goldschmidt’s veteran leadership helped him navigate the situation.
“That inning didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” Warren said. “We’re making pitches and stuff didn’t go our way. Goldy walks over and says, ‘Hey, just stay with it. Keep pitching.’ Subtle stuff like that, coming from a guy that’s been around a long time, it goes a long way.”
Goldschmidt’s opening drive cleared the left-field wall for his fourth homer of the year – second leadoff (also Saturday at Milwaukee) – and the 376th of his career.
It was a swing that manager Aaron Boone said “set the tone for us” – even with reduced playing time this season, Goldschmidt has found ways to impact the Yankees both on and off the field.
“He’s the best. He really is,” Boone said. “He’s just an unbelievable pro and teammate, and he can still really play. … He’s been such an awesome addition to our culture.”
True to that reputation, Goldschmidt downplayed the blast.
“I just try to take my normal at-bat; I don’t try to make a decision if I’m going to swing or not before the at-bat,” Goldschmidt said. “I just try to see the ball and react, and fortunately, I was able to get one there.”
Lobbing credit instead to a teammate, Goldschmidt suggested that the game’s most important play occurred in the third, when Cody Bellinger legged out a run-scoring fielder’s choice on what could have been an inning-ending double play.
“It shows you the type of player Belli is, the hustle there, and how one pitch or one little play can break open the game,” Goldschmidt said.
That’s what happened. With Bellinger aboard, Amed Rosario followed with a run-scoring infield single. Grisham then cleared the center-field wall with his sixth homer of the year.
“I thought we had some good at-bats,” Boone said. “We were patient with Rogers and made him work. There were a couple of good walks to set some things up, and obviously Belli beating that out. Then it was a big swing there by Grisham.”
Goldschmidt said Bellinger’s speed is sometimes overlooked, part of an impressive athletic package that changes games in several ways.
“He does everything really well, and it’s easy to just kind of take that for granted,” Goldschmidt said. “He’s a huge asset on this team, and just an amazing player.”
Fernando Cruz, Jake Bird, Tim Hill and David Bednar combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit relief, protecting the advantage built by a Yankees offense that has scuffled on the road this season.
New York has averaged 6.5 runs per game across 20 home games, compared with 3.9 in 22 road contests entering Tuesday.
“We were hoping to add on and weren’t able to do it – credit to their bullpen guys,” Goldschmidt said. “But we still had a big enough lead to win the game.”