CHICAGO — For this reason it could be troublesome to place Luis Gil within the bullpen.
As a lot because the Yankees may use him as a better, when the right-hander is on he’s considered one of their Most worthy starters.
Gil was dominant in his return from the injured listing, tossing six shutout innings of one-hit ball to raise the Yankees to a 3-0 win over the Cubs on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Area.
In fact, after Gil exited the sport, the Yankees nonetheless needed to discover a solution to report the ultimate 9 outs of their first recreation with a lead since Aaron Boone mentioned he would get “inventive” with save alternatives after Clay Holmes blew his eleventh save on Tuesday evening in Texas.
Jake Cousins threw a scoreless seventh inning in opposition to the center of the order. Tommy Kahnle obtained the eighth in opposition to the 8-9-1 batters and struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 inning.
Boone then known as on Luke Weaver for his first profession save alternative within the ninth to face the guts of the Cubs’ order, which included a pair of left-handed hitters.
Weaver responded by putting out Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki earlier than strolling Cody Bellinger.
However he received an 11-pitch battle with Isaac Paredes, getting him to floor out to safe the victory.
With the victory, the Yankees (81-60) received for less than the third time of their final 9 video games — and briefly moved right into a tie for first place within the AL East pending the Orioles’ recreation in opposition to the Rays — whereas cooling off the Cubs (72-69), who had received 9 of 12 coming into Friday.
After lacking the minimal 15 days with a decrease again pressure, Gil hardly skipped a beat.
His velocity was down a tick — together with his fastball averaging 95 mph in comparison with the 96.8 mph it averaged the remainder of the yr — however it didn’t have an effect on his capacity to get outs.
And he may nonetheless attain again for 98 mph when he wanted it, like he did to get considered one of his seven strikeouts on the day.
On a day that started with a hero’s welcome for Anthony Rizzo, who returned to Wrigley for the primary time because the Cubs traded him to the Yankees in 2021, the veteran first baseman went 1-for-3 with a stroll.
The Yankees took a 3-0 lead within the third inning off left-hander Jordan Wicks because of the highest of their lineup. Gleyber Torres led off the body with a stroll earlier than Juan Soto singled.
Aaron Decide then roped a double down the third-base line to place the Yankees up 1-0.
Austin Wells, taking part in in his first recreation since Monday when he took a 95 mph fastball off his proper hand, adopted by going the opposite manner for a two-run single to make it 3-0.
With the result in work with, Gil responded within the backside of the third with a shutdown inning on six pitches.
After Gil made his return from the IL on Friday, Clarke Schmidt is ready to do the identical on Saturday, giving the Yankees a rotation crunch if everybody stays wholesome.
Boone has mentioned one starter is prone to find yourself within the bullpen, and it’s simple to think about Gil’s shutdown stuff taking part in properly on the again finish.
However on Friday, it was additionally simple to think about Gil being a robust selection to start out a playoff recreation subsequent month.
