NEW YORK — Luis Gil gave the New York Yankees five steady innings Tuesday night, then turned it over to a dominant bullpen in a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees right-hander earned his second victory of the season, improving to 2-1, despite battling command issues that have lingered since his return from a lat injury. Gil walked four, allowed five hits, and struck out five, but he limited damage when it mattered most.
Gil explains strategic velocity dip in fourth inning
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone and a trainer visited Luis Gil on the mound during the fourth inning after the pitcher walked two batters and showed diminished velocity. Gil threw just two fastballs above 93 mph in that frame, raising concerns about his physical condition.
“He backed off his velocity in an effort to find the strike zone,” Boone explained after the game.
Gil provided his own detailed explanation of the strategic decision when speaking to reporters postgame. The Yankees pitcher revealed he was relying heavily on secondary pitches during that problematic fourth inning.
“That was because I wasn’t using the rest much at that time, I was throwing secondary pitches, so when I was throwing the rest, I wanted to get into it, you know? And I was getting it in little by little,” Gil said through a translator.
The strategy worked. Gil regained his form in the fifth inning, consistently hitting 96 mph while retiring the side. He explained his approach to managing the fastball command issues that had developed.
“I was during that time in the game I was using a lot of secondary pitches there. So when I wanted to go to the fastball, I wanted to make sure that it was in the zone. I put myself in a good place. Not falling under there. But yeah, that’s the reason why. And then later on, I was able to pick up,” the Yankees star said.
The Yankees pitcher confirmed he feels physically sound despite the temporary velocity drop and emphasized his growing confidence with each outing.
“With every outing, I’m feeling stronger and more confident out there,” Gil said. “There’s work to be done, but I feel like I’m on the right track, and there’s no doubt in my mind I’ll get back to that 100% level that I was before.”
Gil discusses physical progress and growing confidence
When asked about his physical condition in his fifth start since returning from injury, Gil provided an optimistic assessment of his recovery timeline.
“That’s right, that’s right. Yes, I’m feeling stronger every time I pitch, you know? I’m gaining more confidence every time I pitch a game and we’ll soon be back on track and we’ll be the same as last year, God willing,” the Yankees pitcher said.
The Yankees pitcher emphasized his belief in returning to his 2024 Rookie of the Year form, showing determination despite ongoing challenges with his command.
“I think with every outing, you know, I’m feeling stronger, more confident out there and um, you know, there’s work to be done, but uh I feel like I’m on the right track and I’m not in my mind I’ll get back to that 100% that I was before,” Gil added.
Command remains ongoing concern for Yankees starter
Gil’s control problems continue to be his biggest obstacle since returning to the rotation Aug. 3. Tuesday marked the fourth time in five appearances that he has walked at least three batters.
The 26-year-old needed 92 pitches to complete five innings. He struck out five batters and generated 12 swinging strikes for the Yankees, marking the second time this season he has forced double-digit whiffs.
Despite the command struggles, Gil has now allowed two runs or fewer in four consecutive starts. His ERA sits at 3.75 through 24 innings with a concerning 22-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Yankees bullpen shines in four scoreless frames
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The Yankees bullpen locked down the final four innings. Fernando Cruz, making his return from an oblique strain, loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but escaped by striking out Jacob Young. Boone then turned to Tim Hill, who got James Wood to bounce into a groundout.
From there, Cruz, Hill and the rest of the Yankees relievers shut the door. Washington managed only two hits against the pen while striking out several times down the stretch.
Defensive plays support pitching effort
Cody Bellinger made a key defensive play in the fifth giving the Yankees key momentum. After James Wood doubled to start the inning, Josh Bell singled to left. Bellinger came up firing and threw out Wood at the plate to protect the lead.
That moment came just two innings after Washington’s only run scored when Bellinger held back on a similar chance.
“I was glad I got a second chance,” Bellinger said. “Ultimately, no matter what, you just gotta come up firing. So I came up a little soft, and that’s what I was chatting with Boonie about.”
Yankees maintain wild card position
The victory gave New York its third straight win after a frustrating series loss to Boston. The Yankees have now taken four of their last five series, though each has come against clubs with losing records.
They remain in the second American League wild card spot. Boston stayed a half-game ahead for the top wild card slot after winning Tuesday, while the Yankees trail Toronto by 4.5 games in the AL East race.
Gil scheduled for Chicago road trip
Gil is set to make his next start this weekend against the Chicago White Sox as New York continues its postseason chase.
The former AL Rookie of the Year is still trying to rediscover the form that made him one of the league’s top young arms in 2024. His ability to limit damage, even while struggling with command, has kept the Yankees in games since his return on Aug. 3.
Tuesday’s outing was another step forward for Gil, who missed more than two months with a lat injury. Coupled with four scoreless innings from the bullpen, the performance highlighted a formula the Yankees hope will carry them through the stretch run.
