The Baltimore Orioles flipped the script on Monday, shaking off the memory of their early-May sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees with a gritty 3-2 victory. Leading the charge was right-hander Brandon Young, who delivered exactly what his team needed: a steady, composed outing against one of baseball's most dangerous lineups.
Over 5.1 innings, the 27-year-old allowed just two runs on three hits, striking out five while issuing three walks. The only damage came on a Ben Rice two-run homer in the third inning, but Young quickly settled back into a rhythm. His night ended after a leadoff double to Aaron Judge in the sixth, but reliever Dietrich Enns came in and stranded the three-time AL MVP at third base, a key moment that kept the game within reach.
The Orioles' bullpen took it from there, tossing shutout baseball the rest of the way. Meanwhile, Baltimore's offense stayed patient, and it paid off in the seventh inning. Designated hitter Coby Mayo launched a three-run homer to left field—the game's decisive blow—snapping a hitless streak that had stretched into the late innings against Yankees starter Ryan Weathers.
For Baltimore, this win was about more than just evening the season series. The Orioles entered Monday shorthanded on the mound, with starters Trevor Rogers (illness), Dean Kremer (quadriceps), Cade Povich (elbow), and closer Ryan Helsley (elbow) all on the 15-day injured list. In a situation where a poor start could have sent the team into a tailspin, Young stepped up against a Yankees lineup that ranks third in MLB in OPS (.771), first in home runs (64), and second in RBIs (206).
The contrast from the last meeting between these two teams was stark. The Yankees swept that four-game series by a combined 39-10, scoring at least seven runs in every contest. On Monday, the Orioles proved they can hang tough in a low-scoring battle—a crucial adjustment for a team that sits 20th in baseball with a .697 OPS. With the win, Baltimore moves to 19-23, good for third in the AL East, while the Yankees slip to 26-16 in second place.
