The Yankees now are not the same Yankees as a month ago.
Part of that reason is 23-year-old right-hander Luis Gil.
Gil made his third career start Tuesday night in the second game of a doubleheader against the Red Sox and continued to impress, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out four.
It marked Gil’s third consecutive start without allowing a run, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to accomplish such a feat in his first career three starts, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
He is also the first pitcher in the Modern Era with at least 18 strikeouts and zero runs allowed in his first three career games.
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While was ineligible to get the win, his start helped the Yankees secure a 2-0 win and complete a doubleheader sweep against Boston, putting the Yankees in a virtual tie with the Red Sox for the second wild-card spot.
Because the Yankees have one fewer loss, they currently hold the tie-breaker by winning percentage.
The Yankees were 10.5 games behind the Red Sox on July 6 and with six-plus weeks of the season remaining, the playoff race may just be starting to heat up in the Bronx.
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