Gil's excellent outing helps the Yankees defeat Baltimore 2-0; Cabrera's HR drives in the only runs

BALTIMORE (AP) — Luis Gil outdueled Corbin Burnes, Oswaldo Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning and the New York Yankees topped the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Gil (2-1) allowed two hits and a walk over a career-high 6 1/3 innings in another low-scoring game between the top two teams in the AL East. Baltimore began this four-game series with victories of 2-0 and 4-2, but Gil's performance helped the Yankees ensure they weren't swept.

“Any time he goes out there he's usually got some overwhelming stuff and the ability to do what he did tonight,” manager Aaron Boone said. “What a great tone he set for us. He's got some poison coming out there at you."

The game was significant enough that New York used closer Clay Holmes for the final five outs in his longest outing of the season. He struck out Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman with two on to end the eighth, then pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 10th save in 11 chances.

The teams are back in a virtual tie for first place, with the Orioles (19-11) percentage points ahead of New York (20-12).

Gil allowed five runs in five innings in his previous start at Milwaukee, but he rebounded against a talented Baltimore lineup. He struck out five and never allowed anyone past first base.

“Making sure that I threw strikes — it was a main point of work for me — even going back to spring training,” Gil said through a translator. “We knew that I needed to be more consistent in the strike zone.”

Burnes (3-1) permitted two runs and four hits, striking out six with one walk in his first loss since being traded from Milwaukee to Baltimore this past offseason. The game's only scoring came when Cabrera's line drive down the line in right field barely cleared the wall and stayed fair. The homer was upheld after a short review — the ball was sitting inside the foul pole afterward.

Caleb Ferguson struck out his only two batters in the seventh after relieving Gil. Ian Hamilton started the eighth by issuing a walk and then hitting a batter. After Hamilton retired pinch-hitter Anthony Santander on a foul pop, Holmes entered to face the top of the Baltimore order.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: Boone said RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow) had a “pretty heavy throwing day” Tuesday but was not on the mound. “It sounds like that went well,” Boone said. ... Boone said OF Alex Verdugo might be back Thursday after going on the paternity list.

Orioles: Baltimore put RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder) on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Tuesday and activated LHP John Means (left forearm) from the IL.

UP NEXT

The Orioles did not announce a starter for Thursday's series finale. LHP Carlos Rodón (2-1) takes the mound for the Yankees.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees' Juan Soto. right, is tagged out by Baltimore Orioles third baseman Ramon Urias, left, trying to steal third base during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera celebrates his two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Baltimore. The Orioles challenged the home run but the home run was confirmed after review. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

HOUSTON (AP) — Fast-moving thunderstorms pummeled southeastern Texas on Thursday for the second time this month, killing at least four people, blowing out windows in high-rise buildings, downing trees and knocking out power to nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area.

Officials urged residents to keep off roads, as many were impassable and traffic lights were expected to be out for much of the night.

“Stay at home tonight, do not go to work tomorrow, unless you’re an essential worker. Stay home, take care of your children,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in an evening briefing. “Our first responders will be working around the clock.”

The mayor said four people died. At least two of the deaths were caused by falling trees, and another happened when a crane blew over in strong winds, officials said.

Streets were flooded, and trees and power lines were down across the region. Whitmire said wind speeds reached 100 mph (160 kph), “with some twisters.”

Hundreds of windows were shattered at downtown hotels and office buildings, with glass littering the streets below, and the state was sending Department of Public Safety officers to secure the area.

“Downtown is a mess,” Whitmite said.

There was a backlog of 911 calls that first responders were working through, he added.

The storm system moved through swiftly, but flood watches and warnings remained for Houston and areas to the east.

Flights were briefly grounded at Houston's two major airports. Sustained winds topping 60 mph (96 kph) were recorded at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

More than 870,000 customers were without electricity in and around Harris County, which contains Houston, according to poweroutage.us. The county is home to more than 4.7 million people.

The damage extended to the city's suburbs, with emergency officials in neighboring Montgomery County describing the damage to transmission lines as “catastrophic” and warning that power could be impacted for several days.

The Houston Independent School District canceled classes Friday for all its 274 campuses.

Heavy storms slammed the region during the first week of May, leading to numerous high-water rescues, including some from the rooftops of flooded homes.

Transmission power lines are down near the Grand Parkway and West Road after a storm Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Transmission power lines are down near the Grand Parkway and West Road after a storm Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)