BALTIMORE — While nearly everyone in Camden Yards turned their heads toward Eutaw Street, Juan Soto immediately had his eyes on Dean Kremer.
The Yankees star had just hit a 447-foot home run off Kramer in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Orioles when Soto briefly looked out to right field, then looked at Kramer and threw the bat. turned over.
“That’s part of the game,” Soto said, looking at Kremer a few more times as he rounded the bases. “We were going back and forth.
“He didn’t like the shuffle. I guess he didn’t like the home run either.”
Soto walked and singled in his first two at-bats against Kremer, then succeeded in a full count with one out in the sixth inning.
During his at-bat, he performed his trademark shuffle after taking an inside cutter on a 2-1 pitch, but it appeared that Kremer had taken an exception.
According to the Orioles, Soto’s home run was his first on Eutaw Street this season and his 123rd in total.
Even after speaking with MLB about the matter, manager Aaron Boone didn’t feel too good about the situation Tuesday regarding Aaron Judge’s slide to second base.
Umpires called Judge for interference when crew chief Andy Fletcher hit Willie Adams’ throw to first base with Judge’s outstretched hand, creating a potential double play in Milwaukee on Sunday. Boone asked the league for clarification on Monday after saying he should have.
The conversation didn’t seem to be of much use.
“It’s not very clear on that,” Boone said. “I didn’t feel like there was a conviction on that.”
Judge and Boone both reiterated that the slugger always slides to second base with his left hand raised, but this is the first time he’s gotten in the way of an infielder’s throw to first base.
However, the rules state that interference does not have to occur unless the contact is intentional.
“But if you don’t think it’s intentional, it must be something that seems outside of what you normally do,” Boone said. “I don’t think it meets the standards.”
Boone said he doesn’t expect the judges to change anything about how he slides into second place after Fletcher’s ruling.
The Yankees were playing a game of their own Monday night, but then they were happy to learn that former right-hander Luis Severino pitched a no-hitter until the eighth inning against the Mets and Cubs.
“Wow. I didn’t see anything, but it was pretty impressive,” Boone said. “Good for him. I know he’s worked really hard the last few years and been through a lot. We actually talked about it. [Carlos Mendoza] Last night, for a few minutes. So it’s very good to see Sebby throw the ball the way we all know him. ”
The Yankees traded infielder Kiner Delgado to the Pirates on Tuesday for the second half of the March contract for right-hander JT Brubaker.
The 20-year-old Delgado, who was listed as the Yankees’ No. 20 prospect by MLB.com, hit .293 with an .899 OPS in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last season.
Brubaker, meanwhile, is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and will be off the mound “for a while,” Boone said.
“I think he’s on track to be an option for us at some point this summer,” Boone said.
Infielder John Barty (groin) appeared in two rehab games against Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, going 0-for-2 with two walks and playing seven innings at third base. He is scheduled to play in one more rehab game on Wednesday.
Gerrit Cole (elbow nerve) pitched flat again Tuesday and “everything went well,” Boone said, but he was uncertain when he would pitch from the mound.
Nick Vardy (hip) went to Somerset on Tuesday and had a bullpen session.
