Luis Gil’s first World Series outing was just enough for the Yankees

Luis Gil bent plenty. But against a Dodgers lineup that consistently inflicts damage, he did not quite break. 

The rookie Yankees starter was not particularly strong but was strong enough in an outing that at least gave his offense a chance in the 11-4, season-saving (or at least -extending) Game 4 win in The Bronx on Tuesday. 

Gil was hit hard early and late on a night the Yankees could not expect excellence and would have accepted mere competence.

The 26-year-old made his World Series debut and pitched for just the second time this month, unleashed on 10 days rest, and survived in an outing in which it did not look like he would. 

The righty was charged with four runs allowed (one scoring after he left) on five hits with two walks in four innings, a start that was not sharp but was not a disaster, either. 

It sure looked like a disaster in the first inning.

Mookie Betts snuck a double down the first base line before Freddie Freeman swung and elicited a not-again moan from the sold-out crowd. 

Again: Freeman cleared the right field fence for his fourth home run in as many games in the series to give the Dodgers a two-run lead. 

Mark Leiter Jr. began warming up in the second inning, but Gil settled in. Gavin Lux’s leadoff double in the second was wasted, Tommy Edman lining to Anthony Rizzo, who jump-started a double play.

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Gil mowed through Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freeman in the third.

An inning later, Gil did well to pitch around a one-out walk to Max Muncy, another one of those Dodgers sluggers who simply will not swing at pitches outside the zone. 

If Gil tired in the fifth — an inning he started at 59 pitches — it would be understandable for a pitcher making just his second start since Sept. 28.

Will Smith cracked an opposite-field homer to bring the Dodgers within two runs, and Gil walked Tommy Edman.

Aaron Boone began the bullpen Merry-Go-Round with Tim Hill, who watched Edman eventually come around to score (on a potential double-play ball from Freeman, Gleyber Torres’ high flip to Anthony Volpe proving costly). 

Four innings and four runs is not a statline to admire.

But as it turned out, the Yankees simply needed Gil to avoid an implosion, and the talented rookie cleared that bar.