Yankees starter Luis Gil went six innings in his first game back from injury as he combined with Jake Cousins, Tommy Kahnle and Luke Weaver on a one-hit shutout of the Cubs on Friday. Erin Hooley | AP photo CHICAGO — Luis Gil pitched six sparkling innings in his return from a back injury, and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Friday.
Aaron Judge hit an RBI double and scored on Austin Wells’ two-run single as New York scored three times in the third inning in its first game at Wrigley Field since 2017. Judge went 1 for 3 with a walk in his 10th straight game without a home run — his longest streak of the season.
The Yankees (81-60) improved to 2-2 on a six-game trip that began with a difficult series at Texas. They trailed AL East-leading Baltimore by a half-game going into Friday’s action.
It was New York’s first shutout since Aug. 23 against Colorado and No. 12 on the season overall.
“It was a good day,” manager Aaron Boone said.
The Cubs (72-69) lost for the third time in four games since a successful road trip put them back in the conversation for the third NL wild card.
“I thought Gil threw the ball well, but we got to do a better job,” manager Craig Counsell said. “No leadoff hitters on. No multiple men on base in an inning. That’s a tough formula just to score obviously.”
Chicago left-hander Jordan Wicks (2-3) allowed five hits and walked four in five innings in his second start since returning from a right oblique strain. The Cubs’ lineup also was shut down by Gil (13-6) and three relievers on a breezy afternoon.
Gil allowed Chicago’s only hit — Cody Bellinger’s fourth-inning double — in his first big league start since Aug. 20. The right-hander struck out seven and walked two.
“The more innings that I pitched, felt better,” Gil said through a translator. “I was feeling more comfortable, more loose on the mound. The arm was feeling good and in a good rhythm.”
Gil was placed on the 15-day injured list last month with a strained lower back. He is up to a career-high 130 2/3 innings after missing most of the previous two seasons due to Tommy John surgery.
“It took him a little bit to get the heater going, but I thought it improved the entire game,” Boone said.
Jake Cousins and Tommy Kahnle each pitched an inning for New York before Luke Weaver handled the ninth for his first career save in 199 major league appearances. The Yankees are going with a closer-by-committee approach after Clay Holmes surrendered a game-ending grand slam in a 7-4 loss at Texas on Tuesday night.
Anthony Rizzo went 1 for 3 with a walk in his first game at Wrigley since he was traded by Chicago to New York in July 2021. The big first baseman, who helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series, got a warm reception that featured multiple standing ovations from the crowd.
“It was just cool to be here. A lot of smiles,” Rizzo said. “It was great to hear the seventh-inning stretch and just see Wrigley being Wrigley.”
PHILLIES 16, MARLINS 2
MIAMI — Trea Turner was a triple shy of the cycle, Kyle Schwarber hit his 33rd homer and Bryce Harper had three hits to help Philadelphia overpower Miami.
Johan Rojas added three doubles, and Kody Clemens also had three hits for the NL East-leading Phillies — at 85-56, eight games ahead of second-place Atlanta in the division.
Philadelphia had season highs for runs and hits, with 22.
Zack Wheeler (14-6) threw six innings of one-run ball. The right-hander allowed two hits and struck out seven. He retired the first 10 before Connor Norby singled in the fourth.
J.T. Realmuto singled twice and had two RBIs before leaving in the fourth because of a left knee contusion. He fouled a pitch off his knee in the second and limped away from the box before concluding the at-bat with a single.
METS 6, REDS 4
NEW YORK — Mark Vientos hit a pair of two-run homers, including a leadoff shot in the 10th inning that sent New York past Cincinnati for an eighth consecutive victory.
New York is riding its longest winning streak since an eight-game run in August 2019. Vientos also connected in the first inning for the Mets, who remained tied with Atlanta for the last National League wild card.
Mets closer Edwin Díaz and younger brother Alexis, the Reds’ ace reliever, pitched in the same game for the first time in their major league careers.
ORIOLES 2, RAYS 0
BALTIMORE — Dean Kremer took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Gunnar Henderson hit his 36th home run and Baltimore beat Tampa Bay to remain atop the AL East.
Baltimore holds a half-game lead over the New York Yankees. The Orioles have 20 games left in the regular season and New York has 21 to go.
Kremer lost his no-hit bid when rookie Junior Caminero led off the seventh with a sharp single to left field. Dylan Carlson then grounded a single to right. After Josh Lowe reached on an error to load the bases with no outs, Kremer was pulled by manager Brandon Hyde with Baltimore nursing a 2-0 lead.
RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 1
BOSTON — Ceddanne Rafaela hit a tiebreaking two-run homer over the Green Monster in the seventh inning and Boston handed Chicago its 110th loss of the season.
Triston Casas drove in the other run with a fourth-inning single for the Red Sox, who ended a season-high five-game losing streak and have stumbled in the race for the AL’s third and final wild-card spot by going 6-10 in their last 16 games.
BRAVES 3, BLUE JAYS 1
ATLANTA — Max Fried pitched seven strong innings and Atlanta beat Toronto.
Atlanta began the night tied with the Mets for the final NL wild-card spot. New York was playing the Cincinnati Reds.
ROCKIES 3, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE — Michael Toglia hit a three-run home run, Ryan Feltner struck out six over six innings of one-run ball and Colorado won consecutive games for the first time since early August with a victory over Milwaukee.
Feltner (2-10) held Milwaukee to a pair of hits while walking three for his first victory since April 10. The only blemish came in the third when Jake Bauers walked and scored on a base hit by Joey Ortiz.
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