Kremer pitches Orioles past Yankees for 4-2 victory that opens 1-game AL East lead

BALTIMORE (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched seven innings of two-run ball, Adley Rutschman extended his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the New York Yankees 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Baltimore won the first two games of a four-game series between the AL East’s top teams and opened a one-game AL East lead, the largest this season for the defending division champion.

Juan Soto hit a 447-foot homer and Austin Wells also had a solo drive for the Yankees, who have lost four of six and scored just two runs in the series.

Kremer (2-2) matched his longest outing this season, allowing four hits and striking out four. While he surrendered Wells’ leadoff homer in the third and Soto’s sixth-inning drive onto Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall, he also induced three double-play grounders.

The right-hander has won back-to-back starts for the first time since last July 5 and 14. His outing also alleviated pressure on a taxed bullpen after Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe had worked on back-to-back days, Craig Kimbrel has been bothered by back soreness.

“That was unbelievable, because we had very few guys I was going to pitch tonight,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “For him to battle, compete, mix, he’s just really turning into a really good starting pitcher since the second half of last year for me. He knows how to pitch now.”

Jacob Webb got four outs — including a strikeout of Aaron Judge that ended the eighth for his first save since joining the Orioles last season and the fifth of his big league career.

“It’s awesome to be able to come in and save the game anytime,” Webb said.

A night after going 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the Yankees went 0 for 1 as Judge grounded into an inning-ending forceout in the third.

“We’re putting the ball in play well, we’re having the right at bats,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We just have to break through. Especially when you’re playing a good team, you have to take advantage of some opportunities.”

Judge made his second straight start in left field -- the first two of his big league career.

Baltimore did much of its damage in a three-run fourth against Nestor Cortes (1-3). Jorge Mateo and James McCann doubled, Colton Cowser and Gunnar Henderson followed with infield singles, and Rutschman singled in front of a diving Soto in right for a 4-1 lead. All five hits came on the first or second pitch.

Rutschman had both of his hits against Cortes and improved to 8 for 15 against the left-hander.

Cortes allowed four runs in six innings and struck out five.

Anthony Santander scored the Orioles’ first run after he doubled to lead off the second. Second baseman Gleyber Torres hit him in the back when he tried to move up on Jordan Westburg’s grounder, and Santander scampered home as the ball rolled toward the third base dugout for Torres’ fourth error.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: New York traded INF Keiner Delgado to Pittsburgh to complete the March 29 deal that sent RHP JT Brubaker to the Yankees.

Orioles: Hyde said he is hopeful Kimbrel, who threw in the bullpen before the game, will be available to pitch Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Baltimore ace RHP Corbin Burnes (3-0, 2.55 ERA) faces New York RHP Luis Gil (1-1, 4.01) Wednesday night.

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Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander slides home to score during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. Santander scored from second base on a fielders choice by Orioles' Jordan Westburg and a throwing error by Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, left, and Anthony Volpe (11) react before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles' Anthony Santander slides towards home to score during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. Santander scored from second base on a fielders choice by Orioles' Jordan Westburg and a throwing error by Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees' Austin Wells, top, celebrates his home run as he rounds the bases by third base coach Luis Rojas (67) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge laughs before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

LONDON (AP) — Britain's High Court ruled Tuesday that new regulations that gave U.K. police more powers to intervene in protests are unlawful.

Civil liberties campaign group Liberty brought legal action against the British government over a law passed last year that lowered the threshold for what is considered “serious disruption” to community life caused by a protest.

The 2023 Public Order Act broadened the definition of “serious disruption” from “significant” and “prolonged” disturbance to individuals or an organization to “more than minor."

Authorities introduced the changes by a process called statutory instrument, which faces less scrutiny, after Parliament rejected them earlier. The measures targeted environmental activists who have staged disruptive protests in recent years on busy highways and roads in the U.K. and beyond to raise awareness about the urgency of climate change.

Suella Braverman, the home secretary at the time, told lawmakers last year that the measures would allow ordinary people to drive or get to work on time free from obstruction from a “selfish minority.”

Critics say the change was part of a worrying constriction of the right to protest in Britain.

Two judges ruled Tuesday that the Home Office acted outside of its powers and failed to carry out a fair consultation process.

Judges Nicholas Green and Timothy Kerr said “‘serious’ cannot, in the enabling legislation, mean ‘more than minor.’”

Akiko Hart, Liberty’s director, said the ruling was a “huge victory for democracy."

“These dangerous powers were rejected by Parliament yet still sneaked through the back door with the clear intention of stopping protesters that the government did not personally agree with," Hart said.

The government said it was disappointed with the ruling.

“We’ve said before that the right to protest is fundamental to democracy, but we simply will not tolerate intimidation or serious disruption of the law-abiding majority.," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman, Dave Pares.

“We will consider all options to keep this important power for police, including appealing the judgment if necessary."

FILE- An activist from the group Just Stop Oil is arrested by police officers as they slow the traffic, marching on a road, in London, on Oct. 30, 2023. Britain's High Court ruled Tuesday, May 21, 2024, that new regulations that gave U.K. police more powers to intervene in protests were unlawful. Campaign group Liberty brought legal action against the British government over a law passed last year that lowered the threshold for what is considered “serious disruption” to community life caused by a protest. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)