MLB: Baltimore battles hard at home and keeps Yankees at the bottom of AL East

Baltimore, Maryland - The Baltimore Orioles took the opportunity to send their division rivals down even further in the AL East standings with a hard-fought win over the Yankees on Monday night.

Orioles shortstop Freddy Galvis (r) had an RBI in the Orioles 4-2 win over the Yankees on Monday
Orioles shortstop Freddy Galvis (r) had an RBI in the Orioles 4-2 win over the Yankees on Monday  © IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

The Orioles, led by veteran pitcher and former All-Star Matt Harvey (32), gutted out a tough 4-2 victory over the still-struggling New York Yankees.

Harvey has been on an extended comeback over the last few years and was in rare form during Monday's game. He pitched through six innings, walking three batters, striking out five, and allowing only one earned run. With 84 total pitches in the game, Harvey was throwing a shutout until Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit a double that brought home fellow slugger Giancarlo Stanton.

Baltimore answered with two runs in the sixth and seventh innings before the Yankees threatened again one more run in the eighth. Closer Cesar Valdez was able to close out the win with his fifth save of the year for the Orioles, on just nine pitches.

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Center fielder Cedric Mullins was in the zone on Monday, hitting two home runs and a double, which accounted for two of his team's four runs in the game. Freddy Glavis also contributed a double of his own to knock in one of Baltimore's runs.

For the Yankees, Gio Urshela went 2-for-4, batting in the second run for New York in a valiant effort. The Yankees have had a troubled season so far. The team is struggling to find a rhythm and now finds itself in the cellar of the division. Their longest win streak this season is a paltry three games, and even that was ended on Sunday with a loss to the Indians.

Both teams are back at it again, Tuesday night in Baltimore.

Around the league

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels got his first win of the season, 9-4 over the Rangers on Monday
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels got his first win of the season, 9-4 over the Rangers on Monday  © IMAGO / Kyodo News

The Tigers lost all four games in their series against the Royals, getting swept at home, losing on Monday 3-2, and in Cleveland, the Indians won 5-3 in extra innings against the Twins.

The Braves held off the Cubs at home 8-7, while the Oakland Athletics got back to their winning ways with a 2-1 victory over the Rays, after having their 13-game winning streak snapped.

In Milwaukee, Brewers got shut out at home 8-0, to the Marlins. The Phillies allowed only 2 hits, getting the close win over the Cardinals 2-1.

Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani started on the mound leading the majors in homers, not done since the days of Babe Ruth as he got his first victory over the Rangers 9-4. And the Astros held on at home 5-2 over the Mariners, while the Giants pummeled the Rockies 12-0.

The Dodgers started their three-game series against the Reds on the wrong foot, losing 5-3 at home.

On Tuesday, the Red Sox are in the Big Apple to play against the Mets, and the Padres are down in the desert to take on the Diamondbacks.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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