Luis Gil made a triumphant return from Tommy John surgery as the New York Yankees clinched their first five-game winning streak to start a season in 32 years, overpowering the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 on Monday night.
Anthony Volpe, in his first career four-hit game, including two doubles, contributed with an RBI.
This marked the Yankees’ fifth consecutive win from the start of the season, a feat previously achieved in 1933, 1988, and 1992. The 1927 Yankees had started 6-0, albeit with a tie in their third game.
In his first MLB appearance since May 12, 2022, Gil impressed with a fastball reaching 100 mph.
“He came out firing first batter of the game,” Yankees catcher Austin Wells remarked. “That was really cool. We were all super pumped for him to be out there.”
Despite being an unexpected addition to the Yankees’ rotation, manager Aaron Boone praised Gil’s standout performances during spring training, mentioning that the righty “kicked the door in.”
New York Yankees Team (Via MLB)
Gil validated this confidence on Monday, conceding only one hit over 4⅔ innings while issuing three walks and striking out six.
The Yankees seized a 2-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of an RBI single by Oswaldo Cabrera and an RBI double from Gleyber Torres.
Boone commented, “That’s the thing, I feel like as well as we’ve done so far offensively, I also feel like we’re not really rolling yet. But we’re putting together tough at-bat after tough at-bat after tough at-bat.”
New York extended their lead to 5-0 in the third inning, capitalizing on two walks and two D-backs errors. Volpe initiated the scoring with an RBI single, followed by Wells bringing home the second run on a sacrifice fly.
The third run of the inning occurred when Volpe, after reaching first base, advanced to third on the same sacrifice fly. Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s errant throw to home allowed Volpe to sprint for third.
New York Yankees Team (Via MLB)
Pitcher Ryne Nelson’s poor throw to third, while backing up home plate, then bounced into the outfield, enabling Volpe to score. Gurriel and Nelson both committed errors on the play.
Nelson (0-1) was pulled from the game after surrendering five runs, four earned, over 2⅔ innings, conceding five hits, walking four, and striking out two.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged, “I don’t think it was our finest game.”
Luke Weaver (1-0) secured the win, conceding one run over 2⅓ innings of relief. Victor Gonzalez clinched his first save with a scoreless ninth.
Arizona’s Ketel Marte contributed one of the team’s four hits and two RBIs, both on sacrifice flies.
The Yankees commenced the season with a four-game sweep over the Houston Astros, with all five wins occurring on the road.
Before the game, the Yankees activated right-handed pitcher Jake Cousins after acquiring him in a trade with the White Sox on Sunday. To accommodate Cousins on the roster, New York designated left-hander Tanner Tully for assignment.
