Yankees’ Lewis Gill Shines in Win Against Astros
The Yankees are still figuring out their trade deadline strategy, but one addition this Saturday stepped up big time.
Lewis Gill looked like a frontrunner for the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year during the game at Yankee Stadium.
Gill threw 5⅓ innings, securing a crucial 5-4 victory against the Houston Astros. He allowed two runs on six hits—definitely a much-needed performance from him.
“I believe that,” Gill mentioned through an interpreter. “But more importantly, even if we reach that level, we want to focus on improving, especially in the strike zone.”
The Yankees have faced a lot of challenges with injuries among their rotation all season long, but they’re counting on solid returns from their more reliable pitchers. Gill struggled against the Marlins last week, lasting only 3⅓ innings. However, this outing was a big step in the right direction.
After Jeremy Pena hit a home run to start the game, the Astros managed just one base runner in the next nine at-bats.
The second run Gill conceded came with a bit of an asterisk. After Jess Sanchez hit a ball off the wall, Giancarlo Stanton mishandled it in right field, turning what should’ve been a single into a double. This allowed Sanchez to score on a subsequent single by Carlos Correa.
Gill ran into trouble in the fifth inning but managed to navigate through it by hitting Sanchez with a pitch.
“Honestly, I felt he was just trying to find his rhythm early on,” Manager Aaron Boone said. “But he came out strong, really found his zone in those crucial innings, even if he flirted with some three-ball counts. Overall, he was engaged in all aspects of the game.”
Additionally, Gill topped out with his fastball at 98.4 mph, which led to 15 swings and misses. He kept the pressure on the batters, ending his outing with 91 pitches, with Boone noting it was about the extent of what he could handle.
This performance could be just what Gill needed to bounce back after a rocky start. If this is a preview of what’s to come, it might just be one of the few bright spots the Yankees have had in recent weeks.
