Judge's big league-high 14th homer sparks Yankees over Orioles 12-1 for sweep, 14th win in 16 games

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge put New York ahead in the first inning with his major league-leading 14th home run as part of a four-RBI night, and the Yankees routed the Baltimore Orioles 12-1 on Monday for a four-game sweep and their 14th win in 16 games.

Judge drove a hanging, full-count knuckle-curve from Shane Baz (1-3) into the Yankees bullpen in right-center for a 2-0 lead and added a two-run single in a six-run eighth off Lou Trivino, who made his Orioles debut.

Judge leads the majors with six first-inning homers this year and has 91 in his career, trailing only Babe Ruth’s 126 and Mickey Mantle’s 103 among Yankees. The home run was Judge's 53rd in 124 games against the Orioles.

Cody Bellinger had three RBIs, including a two-run triple off Trivino.

AL-best New York (24-11) moved a season-high 13 games over .500, outscoring the Orioles 39-10 in the series.

Baltimore (15-20) lost its fifth straight, dropping a season-worst five games under .500. Adley Rutschman made the final out, dropping to 1 for 17 in the series.

Cam Schlittler (5-1) won his third straight start, allowing one run and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk to Colton Cowser in the sixth.

Schlittler threw 21 pitches 100 mph or faster — 15 more than his total in 21 previous big league starts.

Baz gave up six runs — five earned — in 5 2/3 innings. Weston Wilson, an infielder and outfielder, went to the mound to get the final out of the eighth.

Orioles: RHP Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.46 ERA) starts Tuesday at Miami, which sends RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.04) to the mound.

Yankees: RHP Elmer Rodríguez (0-1, 4.50) makes his second big league start, against Texas RHP Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01).

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

New York Yankees' Trent Grisham celebrates with teammates after scoring on a sacrifice fly hit by Yankees' Cody Bellinger during the third inning of a baseball game against Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz throws during the first inning of a baseball game against New York Yankees, Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge (99) celebrates with New York Yankees' Trent Grisham, center right, after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against Baltimore Orioles, Monday, May 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins promoted highly-rated catcher Joe Mack from Triple-A and demoted slumping catcher Agustín Ramírez before the club’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

Mack, rated the fifth catching prospect in the major leagues and 54th fourth overall, started behind the plate and went 0 for 3 in Miami’s 1-0 loss.

“Obviously, would have loved to win but just being able to be here with the guys and the experience of what it is to be a major league baseball player, it’s amazing,” Mack said. “It was very cool to step on that field and take it all in. It was a whole new experience.”

Mack was hitting .244 with three homers and nine RBIs through 24 games with the Marlins’ affiliate in Jacksonville before his call-up.

“It’s everything that I’ve worked for my whole career, my whole life,” Mack said. “You dream of this as a kid and finally being able to actually be here, it’s just truly amazing. I thank God every single day for it. He’s carried me through everything. Very blessed to be in the spot that I’m at."

The 24-year-old Mack has ascended through the Marlins’ organization after he was the 31st overall selection in the 2021 draft. The club notably values his defensive skills.

“They called me up for a reason and they called me up to be me,” Mack said. “I’m not going to go out there and be somebody else. I’m going to play my game.”

Mack will split catching duties with Liam Hicks, who also been one of Miami’s top offensive performers this season. Hicks began Monday with a team-leading seven homers and 29 RBIs.

“It’s exciting for anybody making their debut,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “Joe has earned that on the performance side of things.”

After a breakout rookie season in 2025, when he hit 21 homers and drove in 67 runs, Ramírez was hitting .231 and had two homers before his demotion to Triple-A. Ramirez, who finished sixth in the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year voting, also struggled defensively. He has thrown out two of 20 base stealing attempts and has an NL-leading four errors in 17 games.

“We’re going to continue to surround a lot of support around Agustín,” McCullough said. “This is a hot place, there’s nowhere to hide. You hear the narrative. You start to read about it. Sometimes getting out of the spotlight a little bit and have the light a little bit dimmer can let you reset and get back to the player we all know he has a chance to be.”

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

Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack throws a ball during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins' Joe Mack runs after grounding into a force out to reach first base during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, May 4, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Miami Marlins' Agustin Ramirez breaks his bat as he grounds out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)