What Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake deemed a “momentary concern” for Luis Gil following last week’s game against the Orioles may not be so simple.
The Yankees’ incredible performance couldn’t contain the Mets’ hot batting lineup, and the Bombers were soundly defeated in a two-game Subway Series at Citi Field, winning 12-2.
Gill pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks, while also committing an error, before being replaced by Caleb Ferguson in the bottom of the fifth just before the 87-minute rainstorm stoppage.
Gil’s pitching appearance included two doubles by Francisco Lindor and a two-run homer by Francisco Alvarez, and the Mets took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning.
Gill, who was thrust into the starting rotation to open the season following an injury to Gerrit Cole, was one of the best pitchers in baseball through June.
He had a 2.03 ERA and allowed just 18 runs through his first 14 starts, but in a 17-5 blowout loss to the Orioles last Thursday, Gill gave up seven runs and eight hits in just 1 1/3 innings, dropping his ERA to 2.77.
After Wednesday night, his ERA rose to 3.15.
Blake may not consider this outing a sweat equity.
Blake said Tuesday that if Gill struggles again it would be “a second consecutive concern.”
“It’s definitely a bit of a hiccup,” Blake said. “How do you adjust from that? How do you recover from that?”
Gill’s velocity was within normal limits, but his lack of accuracy could be a sign that his arm is starting to tire.
Gill had thrown 81¹/₃ innings this season before Wednesday after pitching just four minor league innings in 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
