Luis Gil Dazzles in Return from Injured List as Yankees 1-Hit Cubs to Take Series-Opener

Luis Gil Shines in Yankee Victory

Luis Gil delivered a stellar performance in his return from the injured list on Thursday, leading the New York Yankees to a dominant 1-hit victory over the Chicago Cubs in the series opener at Yankee Stadium.

Gil, who had been sidelined since July 7 with a right flexor pronator strain, looked sharp throughout his outing. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed only one hit, a first-inning single by Jonathan Villar, over five shutout innings. He struck out five batters and walked none, showcasing his pinpoint control and sharp command of his pitches.

Yankees Offense Provides Just Enough

The Yankees' offense provided just enough support for Gil, scoring the game's only run in the third inning. Aaron Judge drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a single by Gleyber Torres, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Carpenter.

The Yankees had several other opportunities to score, but they were unable to capitalize on them. They left nine runners on base, including stranding the bases loaded in the fifth inning.

Cubs' Offense Silenced

Meanwhile, the Cubs' offense was completely shut down by Gil and the Yankees' bullpen. After Villar's single in the first inning, the Cubs managed just one other base runner, a walk by Patrick Wisdom in the third inning. They went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and struck out a total of 13 times.

The lone hit allowed by Gil was the first time the Yankees had been held to one hit or fewer since May 18, 2019, when they were no-hit by Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros.

Gil's Impressive Return

Gil's dominant performance was a welcome sight for the Yankees, who have been struggling with injuries to their starting rotation. The Yankees have lost several key starters to injuries this season, including Jameson Taillon, Jordan Montgomery, and Domingo Germán.

Gil's return gives the Yankees a much-needed boost, and his performance on Thursday suggests that he is ready to be a key contributor down the stretch.

Looking Ahead

The Yankees and Cubs will continue their series on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. Nestor Cortes will start for the Yankees, while Marcus Stroman will take the mound for the Cubs.