Luis Gil notches 15th Yankees win but Boone ‘a little bit’ concerned

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Luis Gil‘s performance in the New York Yankees’ 7-4 win over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday was a blend of highs and lows. Despite not delivering his best outing, the Yankees pitcher earned his 15th victory of the season, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out five.

Luis Gil’s outing concluded in the sixth inning with a 5-2 lead, but he exited the game with two runners on base. Both of those runners scored when reliever Ian Hamilton surrendered a double to pinch hitter Ryan Noda, underscoring the challenges he faced during the game.

This start marked Luis Gil’s least effective performance in his last four outings since returning from a back injury, although he has still managed to collect three wins in that span. Over his last eight appearances, he has shown both strikeout capability and control issues, recording a 42:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 38.2 innings while allowing 16 runs.

Luis Gil’s season statistics now include a 3.27 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 166:76 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 146 innings in 28 starts. His final regular-season appearance is anticipated to be at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Reflecting on his achievement of 15 wins, Luis Gil expressed pride through an interpreter, noting his goal to contribute to the team’s success since spring training, where he initially stepped into the rotation as an injury replacement for Gerrit Cole.

“I’m extremely happy and satisfied about that,” he conveyed. “When you think about it, to win 15 games, I wanted to come into camp and help this team as much as possible. So it’s a great feeling, great experience.”

Boone worried over Luis Gil’s outing

The game, which completed a sweep for the Yankees, attracted 24,663 fans to the stadium. Despite Luis Gil’s challenges on the mound, the Yankees’ offense provided ample support to secure the win and strengthen their playoff position.

Luis Gil has shown strong performance in his first full season as a starter for the New York Yankees. However, his ongoing struggles in the first inning remain a concern for manager Aaron Boone, despite contributing to the Yankees’ 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

Boone expressed his worries about Luis Gil’s early-game issues, particularly highlighting challenges in his last two starts. The manager emphasized the need for the rookie to find his rhythm quickly, as the first inning has consistently posed problems.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Boone replied to YES on a question highlighting Luis Gil’s homer issues. “You know, want him to get in that rhythm, obviously, early. That first inning the last few [starts], like you said, has been a bugaboo for him.”

In Sunday’s matchup, Luis Gil’s difficulties were apparent. After retiring the first two batters, he walked JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers, leading to a two-run double from Tyler Soderstrom. Although he settled down afterward, he left two inherited runners for reliever Ian Hamilton in the sixth, both of whom later scored on Ryan Noda’s double.

Luis Gil faced similar first-inning challenges in his previous start against the Seattle Mariners, where he narrowly avoided a bases-loaded situation thanks to an ill-timed attempt to steal home by Mariners DH Victor Robles.

Statistics indicate a pattern of control issues for Luis Gil in the opening frame this season. Before Sunday’s game, batters posted a .336 on-base percentage against him in the first inning. Over his 28 starts, he has issued 25 walks and hit two batters in that initial frame. Interestingly, despite these early struggles, his overall first-inning ERA stands at a respectable 2.25, and he has limited opponents to a .158 average during that period.

With a record of 15-6, a solid 3.27 ERA, and 166 strikeouts over 146 innings, Luis Gil is expected to play a significant role in the Yankees‘ postseason rotation. However, his ability to improve his first-inning performance will be crucial when facing formidable lineups in high-pressure games.

The contrast between Luis Gil’s first-inning difficulties and his overall success presents a compelling challenge for the Yankees as they gear up for the postseason, underscoring the need to address this aspect of his game.

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