MLB Roundup: Yankees Homer Early and Often, Overrun Orioles

On a crisp April evening in the Bronx, the New York Yankees reminded the baseball world why their offense remains one of the most explosive in Major League Baseball. Fueled by a barrage of home runs in the early innings, the Yankees dismantled the Baltimore Orioles in a lopsided affair, taking the series opener in dominant fashion. The final score — Yankees 11, Orioles 4 — tells only part of the story.

For Baltimore, a club trying to assert itself as a contender in the cutthroat AL East, the loss was a reality check. For the Yankees, it was a statement win powered by vintage Bronx Bombers firepower, headlined by sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Home Run Derby in the Bronx

Before fans had time to settle into their seats, the Yankees had already begun their assault on Baltimore starter Dean Kremer. DJ LeMahieu led off the bottom of the first with a double, setting the table for Judge, who launched a towering home run into Monument Park for his 8th of the season. Stanton followed two batters later with a laser to left-center, and just like that, it was 3–0.

It was a sequence that repeated itself in the second inning. Anthony Volpe drew a walk, and Gleyber Torres wasted no time sending a hanging curveball deep into the left field bleachers. The Yankees added another two runs in the third, again courtesy of the long ball — this time a 413-foot moonshot by Jose Trevino.

By the time the Orioles’ bullpen got involved, the Yankees had tallied seven runs, all of them via home runs. It marked the fourth game this season in which New York hit five or more homers — a pace reminiscent of their record-setting 2019 campaign.

Judge and Stanton Power Up

Aaron Judge, who entered the game mired in a minor slump, looked every bit the former MVP on Monday night. He finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, double, single, walk, and three RBIs. The game marked his 22nd career multi-homer game — a testament to his enduring dominance when healthy.

“It felt good to get into one early and help set the tone,” Judge said postgame. “We’ve got a lineup that can do damage top to bottom, and tonight it all came together.”

Giancarlo Stanton, meanwhile, delivered a classic performance of his own. He went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs, showcasing the power and bat speed that has made him one of the league’s most feared hitters when locked in.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised both stars after the game.

“When those guys are driving the ball like that, it just energizes the whole dugout,” Boone said. “It’s contagious. They’re the engines of this team.”

Orioles’ Pitching Falters

For Baltimore, the pitching performance was nothing short of disastrous. Dean Kremer, who had shown promise over his previous three outings, lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up seven earned runs on six hits — five of them home runs. He struck out only one batter and walked two.

“I didn’t execute my pitches,” Kremer admitted after the game. “Against a lineup like that, you leave balls over the plate, and they make you pay.”

The bullpen didn’t fare much better. Cole Irvin allowed two more runs in the fifth, and Mike Baumann surrendered another long ball in the seventh, this time to rookie outfielder Trent Grisham, his first as a Yankee.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde didn’t mince words in his postgame comments.

“We just got outplayed,” Hyde said. “We made mistakes, and they didn’t miss. That’s what good teams do.”

Bright Spots for Baltimore

Despite the blowout, there were a few positives for Baltimore. Adley Rutschman continued his strong season at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the fifth. The All-Star catcher is now hitting .309 with 4 home runs and 17 RBIs, continuing to serve as the heartbeat of the Orioles’ lineup.

Gunnar Henderson also added to his early-season highlight reel, crushing a two-run homer off Yankees reliever Caleb Ferguson in the eighth inning. The shot marked Henderson’s seventh of the year and extended his hitting streak to nine games.

And though the scoreboard didn’t reflect it, the Orioles flashed some defensive brilliance as well — none more impressive than Cedric Mullins’ full-extension diving catch in center field to rob Stanton of extra bases in the sixth inning.

Still, the lopsided loss underscored Baltimore’s most pressing concern: starting pitching. With John Means still recovering from Tommy John surgery and Kyle Bradish on a rehab assignment, the Orioles’ rotation has lacked consistency. Until those reinforcements arrive, outings like Monday’s could become more common.

Yankees’ Rotation Provides Stability

While the Yankees’ offense earned the headlines, right-hander Clarke Schmidt quietly turned in a quality start. He tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits and striking out seven. It was arguably Schmidt’s best outing of the season and a sign of promise for a team that’s dealt with its own injury woes.

With Gerrit Cole still sidelined with an elbow issue and Carlos Rodón returning from a slow start, the Yankees’ rotation has leaned heavily on arms like Schmidt, Nestor Cortes, and Marcus Stroman. Performances like this one help ease the burden and add depth to a unit that could become dangerous if fully healthy by the summer.

“Clarke was aggressive, threw strikes, worked fast — exactly what we needed,” Boone said. “He set the tone early, and the offense followed.”

AL East Implications

The win pushed the Yankees to 18–10 on the season, good for second place in the loaded AL East, just a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles, meanwhile, dropped to 15–13 and have now lost five of their last seven games after a hot start.

While it’s still early, the division is shaping up to be the dogfight everyone expected. With the Blue Jays and Red Sox hovering around .500, no team can afford extended slumps — especially in head-to-head matchups like this.

For the Orioles, the task is clear: shore up the pitching, especially the back end of the rotation, and hope their offense can continue to keep games within reach. For the Yankees, the formula is beginning to click — if Judge and Stanton stay healthy, and the rotation holds firm, they could be one of the league’s most complete teams.

Around the League: Other MLB Action on Monday

Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 2: Shohei Ohtani smashed his 10th homer of the season and Mookie Betts added a triple and a pair of RBIs as the Dodgers continued their dominance over Arizona. Clayton Kershaw struck out eight in his return from the injured list.

Braves 5, Mets 3: Ronald Acuña Jr. homered and stole two bases as the Braves handed the Mets another tough loss. Atlanta’s bullpen was lights out, with Raisel Iglesias closing the door in the ninth.

Astros 4, Rangers 3: In a tense AL West showdown, Yordan Álvarez hit a go-ahead double in the eighth inning to give Houston the win. Framber Valdez went seven innings and struck out nine in a no-decision.

Brewers 7, Cubs 1: Christian Yelich had a three-hit night and Freddy Peralta delivered another strong outing as Milwaukee extended their lead in the NL Central.

Giants 8, Rockies 5: The Giants broke out of a scoring slump with a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by a Wilmer Flores grand slam.

Looking Ahead

The Yankees and Orioles will meet again Tuesday night in the second game of their three-game set. Baltimore will send Tyler Wells to the mound, hoping to stabilize the rotation, while the Yankees counter with Nestor Cortes, who has quietly been one of the best lefties in the AL this season.

For the Orioles, the game presents a chance to bounce back and prove their resilience. For the Yankees, it’s an opportunity to keep the pressure on the Rays and solidify their hold as a top-tier American League contender.

Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: when the Yankees’ bats are hot, there are few teams in baseball that can keep pace.