Jordan Montgomery had to wait nearly three years to pitch in front of fans at Yankee Stadium again, well beyond what he and his teammates went through during the COVID-affected 2020 campaign.
Montgomery reminded those fans in The Bronx of the excellent start to his career before Tommy John surgery in 2018, hurling six shutout innings in the Yankees’ 7-0 victory Monday night over Baltimore.
The 28-year-old lefty scattered four singles and walked none, while striking out seven, before Aaron Boone replaced him with Luis Cessa with a seven-run lead to start the seventh. Cessa and Aroldis Chapman completed the four-hit shutout by combining for the final nine outs.
“Warming up, I could hear [the fans], but once I got out there I kind of blocked it out and was zoned in,” Montgomery said. “Just attacked the hitters with four different pitches. Was in the [strike] zone a lot and was able to expand when I needed to.”
Montgomery, who was supported by a solo homer from Aaron Judge and a grand slam by Giancarlo Stanton, was sharp and efficient throughout first home start with fans in attendance (albeit just 9,008) since April 26, 2018, against Minnesota.
He’d injured his elbow in his following outing in Houston and underwent Tommy John surgery in June, before returning for two road appearances (one start) in late September of 2019.
Mongtomery also endured a shaky first full season back from surgery last year, finishing 3-2 with a 5.11 ERA in 10 starts. He also made one start in the ALDS against Tampa Bay, working four innings of one-run ball in the Yankees’ Game 4 victory.
The South Carolina product was particularly sharp Monday night with his changeup and curveball, recording five of his seven strikeouts on those two pitches. In all, he threw 55 of his 73 pitches for strikes.
The Orioles had only one runner reach third base against Montgomery, but he retired Ryan McKenna on a grounder to short with runners on the corners for the third out.
“Pounded the zone. I think I looked up at one point and he had 40 strikes and 13 balls,” Boone said. “Us old, broken-down ballplayers, from the side I watch guys and think how I might have done against him.
“Monty to me is the type of guy I would not have liked to face. I just feel like when he’s controlling the strike zone, you get a lot of tonight.”
