Yankees’ Luis Gil dominates Angels in 107-pitch, five shutout innings

In a rain-soaked opener of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, right-hander Luis Gil‘s resilience helped lead the New York Yankees to a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Despite the challenging conditions, the pitcher managed to pitch five scoreless innings, though his outing was not without its struggles.

The Angels applied constant pressure, forcing Luis Gil to throw 55 pitches in just the first two innings. By the time he exited after the fifth, his pitch count had reached 107. Notably, Gil’s final inning was his most efficient, needing only 16 pitches to retire the side in order.

Aware of his rising pitch count, Luis Gil entered the fifth inning knowing that any misstep could result in his removal from the game.

“At that moment, I didn’t have many pitches left going into the fifth inning, so I just wanted to get to the best that I had at that particular moment of the game,” Lusi Gil told after the win. “Pitching that inning would be big for our bullpen. You have to understand that it happens. You have to find it within you to be the best out there. You understand that you find yourself in big-time competition and know we have a second game coming.”

Gil on the Hill. @thegil81 🙌 pic.twitter.com/qYNAAEt4yH

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 7, 2024

Luis Gil admitted that the adverse weather conditions affected his ability to locate his primary pitches effectively. He emphasized the importance of mental toughness in such situations, especially given the high stakes of the game and the looming second game of the doubleheader.

Luis Gil not perfect but conquers Angel

The rookie right-hander for the Yankees, demonstrated remarkable resilience in his latest start, battling through five scoreless innings despite throwing a career-high 107 pitches. His outing began with a challenging first inning, where he threw 30 pitches and issued two walks.

Throughout his performance, Luis Gil managed to strand seven runners while maintaining his shutout. The rainy conditions affected his grip, resulting in five walks, but he countered this by allowing only two hits, both singles in the second inning, and striking out six batters. Luis Gil’s ability to make crucial pitches in high-pressure situations was particularly noteworthy.

While his performance may not have been aesthetically pleasing, especially considering the weakened state of the Angels’ lineup, Luis Gil’s effectiveness was undeniable. He surrendered just two hits while recording six strikeouts. However, his control issues were evident with five walks and two wild pitches.

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Luis Gil’s struggles to find his rhythm but praised the quality of his fastball. Boone noted that despite the numerous long counts, his five shutout innings set the stage for a Game 1 victory, commending the young pitcher’s battling spirit.

“It was a bit of a struggle just to get him in rhythm,” the Yankees manager said. “His fastball profiled really good. Just a lot of long counts. But he was five shutout and kind of grinded his way to set us up for a Game 1 victory. So a good job of batting by Louie.”

Luis Gil’s perseverance was particularly evident as he progressed through the game. After throwing 55 pitches in the first two innings and 92 through four, it seemed unlikely he would last five innings to qualify for the win. However, he was sent out for the fifth and delivered his best inning of the game, retiring the side in order.

The significance of completing the fifth inning was not lost on Luis Gil, who expressed his excitement and emphasized the importance of giving his team the best possible chance to win. His emotion was visible as he celebrated the final out of his outing by emphatically swinging his arm through the air.

When he left the game, the Yankees held a comfortable 5-0 lead, a testament to his ability to keep the opposing team scoreless despite his struggles.

Luis Gil gets ample support from Yankees’ bats

Despite the challenges, Luis Gil’s perseverance was instrumental in securing the Yankees‘ win, setting a positive tone for the day’s doubleheader.

The New York Yankees provided ample offensive support for Luis Gil in his 12th victory of the season, tying him for the team’s highest win total. The Yankees quickly established a lead in the first inning against Angels right-hander Davis Daniel, with Alex Verdugo scoring on Austin Wells’ RBI single, followed by Aaron Judge crossing home on Anthony Volpe‘s RBI double.

Luis Gil on keeping the Angels scoreless through 5 innings: I think the key was just pushing through. pic.twitter.com/loMLr8fGXj

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 7, 2024

While Judge and Juan Soto have garnered much attention in the Yankees’ lineup, Wells has been a standout performer lately. Since July 21, Wells has posted a .373 batting average, collecting 19 hits in 51 at-bats, including two home runs and nine RBIs. He has particularly thrived in the cleanup spot, batting behind Judge.

Manager Aaron Boone praised Wells’ consistency, noting his unwavering approach and ability to deliver quality at-bats. Boone expressed excitement about Wells’ development as a reliable middle-of-the-order hitter.

Despite limited playing time following Jazz Chisholm Jr.‘s acquisition from the Marlins, Oswaldo Cabrera capitalized on his start at second base, contributing a solo home run in the second inning.

By the fourth inning, New York had extended its lead to 5-0. Verdugo’s second hit of the game, a double to right-center field, brought Ben Rice home, while Judge drove in Verdugo with a single to left for the Yankees’ fifth run.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.