No debating this win: Yankees complete a 3-game sweep with a 6-1 rout of the Orioles

BALTIMORE (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched six sharp innings, Luis García Jr. and Spencer Jones homered and the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep in Baltimore with a 6-1 victory over the Orioles on Thursday night.

Cole (7-6) allowed four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. A fifth-inning homer by Dylan Beavers produced the lone Baltimore run. The Yankees pulled within four games of AL East-leading Tampa Bay.

Ryan Yarbrough relieved Cole and pitched three perfect innings for his third save.

The Orioles have dropped four in a row after briefly taking sole possession of the lead in the race for the final American League wild card. Kyle Bradish (7-12) allowed three earned runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, and Baltimore also permitted a pair of unearned runs in the third.

With men on first and third and nobody out that inning, second baseman Jackson Holliday fielded a tough grounder and threw to second, but shortstop Gunnar Henderson dropped the ball for an error and everyone was safe.

With a run already in, Bradish induced a double play, but Ben Rice followed with an RBI single and then Heliot Ramos brought in a run with a double that made it 3-0.

Beavers' drive to right made it 3-1, but García and Jones answered with solo shots to chase Bradish in the sixth. Jazz Chisholm Jr. tripled in a run in the eighth.

There was no controversy about this New York win, a night after Pete Alonso's deep fly ball against the Yankees was ruled foul with the game tied. Alonso did single twice Thursday to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games.

Cole (1,015) moved one strikeout ahead of Roger Clemens for 12th place on the Yankees' career list.

The Yankees return home to face Toronto on Friday night. Cam Schlittler (10-6) takes the mound for New York.

Baltimore hosts Tampa Bay, with Trevor Rogers (8-8) starting for the Orioles.

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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish walks back to the dugout after he was pulled during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees' Spencer Jones (78) celebrates after his solo home run with Austin Wells, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom reached 2,000 career strikeouts in the second-fewest games and innings pitched in major league history when the Texas Rangers right-hander fanned the first two batters among his 10 K's against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.

DeGrom struck out Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz, both of whom chased sliders below the zone. He received a standing ovation and acknowledged the applause by tapping his cap over his heart.

DeGrom allowed a second-inning single and a fifth-inning walk, both to Brady House, in six shutout innings while throwing 94 pitches. He struck out the side in the fourth, and his 10 strikeouts matched a season best.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner has 2,008 strikeouts in 1,666 1/3 innings over 272 starts since his big league debut in 2014 with the New York Mets. DeGrom has 157 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings this season.

Hall of Famer Randy Johnson got his 2,000th strikeout in his 262nd appearance for the fewest games. Chris Sale holds the record for fewest innings at 1,626.

The 38-year-old deGrom is the ninth active player and 95th in history to reach the milestone. He is the fourth this season, following Kevin Gausman, Sonny Gray and Aaron Nola.

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Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom, center right, stands by the mound after striking out Washington Nationals designated hitter Abimelec Ortiz that gave him his 2,000th career strikeout in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom acknowledges cheers from fans after striking out Washington Nationals' Abimelec Ortiz to earn his 2,000th career strikeout in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)