Hartford Courant (Sunday)

Judge hits 2 more homers vs. O’s

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BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge hit two more home runs against Baltimore, Gio Urshela had a go-ahead, pinch-hit shot and the New York Yankees overcame a spate of injuries to beat the Orioles 5-4 Friday night.

Judge is now 10 for 19 with five home runs facing the Orioles this season. He has 13 career multihomer games, five of them against Baltimore.

Urshela is still hampered by a left knee injury but was available off the bench in the seventh. After Miguel Andújar singled and Kyle Higashioka earned a walk, Urshela hit the second pinch-hit homer of his career off Travis Lakins (1-4) to erase a 4-2 deficit.

Urshela fouled off four 2-2 pitches before connecting.

“It was just a big-time at-bat by a really good player,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m glad I had (him) sitting over there as a weapon tonight, obviously.”

The Yankees were missing several key players, including shortstop Gleyber Torres (COVID19), center fielder Aaron Hicks (left wrist) and slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who was a late scratch with left quad tightness.

Yankees starter Corey Kluber (3-2) allowed four runs and seven hits with six strikeouts over six innings. He also posted his 1,500th career strikeout in the third.

It was the second time in 17 days Kluber earned a win against Baltimore, which fell to 0-16 when trailing after eight innings.

“For the most part, I executed pitches pretty well throughout the course of the game,” Kluber said.

Jonathan Loáisiga picked up his second save.

Judge gave the Yankees the lead on the first with a deep, solo homer off Orioles rookie Dean Kremer, who had lost his previous two starts to the Yankees this season.

“I am just trying to do my job,” Judge said. “Hitting in the middle of the lineup, I have to get things going. I was just trying to do what I could.”

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