NEW YORK � Gleyber Torres' absurd dominance against Orioles pitching reached an historic level on Monday.
Belting a pair of home runs in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader sweep by the Yankees, Torres established a new MLB record � with five multi-homer games against one team in a single season.
Torres hit two three-run homers in the Yankees' 11-8 win at Yankee Stadium, and he wasn't allowed to try for a third in the nightcap.
With runners at first and second, Torres was intentionally walked by Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde to load the bases for Brett Gardner.
Gardner, who opened the game's scoring with a three-run triple, grounded out.
In the opener, Torres hit one of the Yankees' four home runs in an 8-5 victory. All told, half of Torres' 26 home runs this year have been at the Orioles' expense.
"Way back, left field _ ya gotta be kidding me!" Orioles broadcaster Gary Thorne shouted on MASN, then advised the Orioles to hold up four fingers the next time he comes up.
They did.
And to think that Torres went 0-for-7 against the O's last week during a four-game Yankees sweep in Baltimore, while he was dealing with a core muscle issue.
Told how far Gio Urshela's fifth-inning home run traveled on Monday afternoon, Aaron Boone had to repeat the number.
Measured by MLB Statcast, that 461-foot drive to left at Yankee Stadium might finally convince Urshela that he's a legitimate long ball threat.
"I think you could say it now," Urshela said with a soft smile.
With seven more homers in Monday's two games, the AL-East leading Yankees increased their home run total to 59 against the O's this year, extending an MLB record for the most home runs against any one opponent in a single season.
It was only last Wednesday at Baltimore when Urshela's pair of two-run homers gave him his first career multi-homer game.
One night later, he followed that with his second career multi-homer game at Toronto.
Along with Urshela's seventh home run in his last seven games on Monday, Didi Gregorius, Torres and Cameron Maybin all went deep in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Mike Ford hit one in the nightcap.
"I hit it good," Urshela said by way of understatement of his longest career home run. And back in the dugout, his teammates' reaction was practically giddy.
"They were laughing," Urshela said. "They say I've got power now."
It was never just about Camden Yards.
After a wild, record-setting home run party last week at Baltimore, the Yankees _ beginning with Gregorius's three-run shot in the first _ slugged all four of Monday afternoon's homers off starter Gabriel Ynoa (1-7).
Urshela wound up going 3-for-4, including an RBI double on an 0-and-2 pitch in the second inning, raising his batting average to .328.
"It's confidence � try to have confidence every time, be ready for every pitch," said Urshela, who now has 18 homers in 98 games this year. He entered 2019 with eight homers in in his first 167 MLB games.
"I got a chance, and that's what I'm doing right now," Urshela said of making the most of it.
"No, it doesn't surprise me," Gregorius said of Urshela's production. "Because he's been consistent all year."
Gregorius had a sac fly to the right-center field warning track, giving him four RBI on the day and supplying the AL East-leading Yankees (78-41) with an 8-3 lead over the last-place Orioles (39-79).
Boone's club smashed 43 homers in winning all 10 games this season at Camden Yards.
James Paxton (8-6) also gave up two solo homers _ to Trey Mancini and Anthony Santander _ during his six innings, yielding three runs.
Employing an aggressive game plan, Paxton had seven strikeouts and went to his changeup more often.
"Something that we've been working on in the bullpen," Paxton said, telling catcher Gary Sanchez to "mix it in" where he felt appropriate, too good effect.
"I knew it was a pitch we could use," Paxton said, especially off his fastball.
In the eighth, Zack Britton had to bail out Luis Cessa with the bases loaded and one outs. Aroldis Chapman started the ninth and closed out his 32nd save of the year.
Gregorius is still dealing with a strain near the ring and pinky finger of his left hand, stemming from a defensive play where he rolled his wrist earlier this month.
"If you ever notice, every time I take a swing, I readjust the batting gloves to make sure that everything stays intact," said Gregorius, adding that it's about pain tolerance.
That said, Boone feels that Gregorius is "real close to going on one of those streaks where he gets Didi hot," and the shortstop didn't exactly disagree.
"Well, I can't predict the future," Gregorius said. "But if (can), then, yes."
