Yankees manager Aaron Boone is concerned about starting pitcher Luis Gil’s recurring “bugaboo,” despite his otherwise solid performance in the rotation this season.
After helping the Yankees secure a 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, Boone noted Gil’s persistent struggles in the first inning. “Yeah, a little bit,” Boone told the YES Network when asked if he was worried. “That first inning, like you said, has been a bugaboo for him.”
In Sunday’s game, Gil retired the first two batters but then issued two walks, leading to a two-run double by Tyler Soderstrom. Although he settled in afterward, reliever Ian Hamilton allowed two inherited runners to score in the sixth inning. Gil had a similar shaky start in his previous outing against the Seattle Mariners, loading the bases but escaping unscathed thanks to an odd baserunning decision.
Gil’s main issue this season has been first-inning control. Opponents had a .336 on-base percentage (OBP) against him in the first inning before Sunday’s game, and he has issued 25 walks and hit two batters across the first innings of his 28 starts. Despite this, his first-inning earned run average (ERA) is among his best, at 2.25, with opposing hitters batting just .158.
With a 15-6 record, 3.27 ERA, and 166 strikeouts over 146 innings, Gil is a likely candidate for postseason starts. However, if his control issues continue, particularly against stronger lineups, he could be in trouble.
In the same game, Aaron Judge hit his league-leading 55th home run, as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep over the Athletics. Gleyber Torres and Jasson Domínguez also homered, helping the Yankees move closer to securing the AL East title.
With a 92-64 record, the Yankees are playoff-bound and can clinch the division with one win in their upcoming series against the second-place Baltimore Orioles. New York also holds a two-game lead over Cleveland for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs.
Judge, a California native, received a warm reception from Yankees fans at Oakland Coliseum, where he homered for the second consecutive game. With the Athletics planning to relocate to Sacramento and eventually Las Vegas, this was one of their final games at the historic stadium. Judge, reflecting on the significance of playing there, expressed both pride and sadness over the team’s impending move.
Judge, who holds the American League single-season home run record with 62, continues to climb the Yankees’ all-time home run list, surpassing legends like Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Alex Rodriguez. He has now hit 23 home runs that have given the Yankees a lead this season.
