Luis Gil, the Yankees' biggest surprise of the season, has fans rising to their feet

NEW YORK – The crowd was already rising to its feet and beginning its ovation as Yankees manager Aaron Boone walked to the mound.

Boone took the ball from Luis Gil, who walked a few steps before clapping into his glove, removing his cap and raising it to show appreciation to the fans.

The praise for Gil was well-earned.

The right-hander continued to prove that he’s the biggest surprise of the season, pitching another superb outing that included just one hit to help send the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners Thursday before a crowd of 43,121 at Yankee Stadium.

With the win, Boone’s club improved to 18 games over .500, which ties its high mark of the season. It also closed out a 5-2 homestand.

The Yanks now hit the road for a nine-game, 10-day road trip that includes series against the Padres, Angels and Giants.

Gil, who threw 6.1 scoreless innings, made sure the cross-country flight would be a good one.

"He’s been one of the best pitchers in the league," Boone said. "Just continues to get better and better."

Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge each homered off Seattle starter Luis Castillo before the Yankees added three more runs against the Mariners’ bullpen in the seventh.

That was more than enough on this afternoon.

Clay Holmes pitched the final four outs to secure the victory.

Luis Gil stellar once again

Gil has largely been stellar this season, entering Thursday with a 5-1 record and a 2.39 ERA through nine starts. He was coming off a dominant outing against the Chicago White Sox where he struck out 14 batters, the most by a rookie in a single game in franchise history since Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez fanned 13 in 1998.

With the way he’s pitched, Gil has made it far easier to be without ace Gerrit Cole until he’s ready to rejoin the rotation – something Boone said before Thursday’s game is likely still weeks away.

"I think it has to do with training," Gil said through an interpreter. "Focusing on your routine in between starts, making sure you do the same thing and prepare the same way, especially if you’re getting good results, you keep doing that as long as you can."

Gil on Thursday retired the first nine batters he faced until J.P. Crawford led off the top of the fourth with an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop that Anthony Volpe couldn’t field in time to make the out.

But that was the lone hit Gil allowed, stifling the Mariners with a sharp repertoire of fastballs, sliders and changeups.

He didn’t permit a baserunner again until he walked Ty France to start the sixth inning. Gil’s command started to get away from him and he walked Dylan Moore to put two runners on with two outs.

But Gil then struck Luke Raley out on a 97-mph fastball to escape the inning.

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Gil came back out for the seventh to face Mitch Garver, who flied out to center, before Boone brought in reliever Victor Gonzalez.

The 25-year-old Gil, who didn't pitch last season after having Tommy John Surgery, walked two batters and struck out eight in the 96-pitch outing.

Gil became just the third pitcher in franchise history to pitch at least six innings while yielding one or fewer runs in five consecutive starts.

"They made him work a little bit in the sixth," Boone said. "Probably tired out a little bit there. But really efficient for five innings. When he did get into some three-ball counts, he made pitches. He just has so many weapons that can beat you."

In his last five starts, Gil is 5-0 with a miniscule 0.59 ERA.

Gil has come a long way since being demoted during spring training, only to be recalled after Cole went on the injured list in late March. Gil said Cole has provided valuable pointers in between starts.

From his vantage point in centerfield, Judge has a unique view of what has made Gil so formidable.

"He’s got that elite fastball, I think that’s probably the No. 1 thing," Judge said. "He’s pumping it up 97, 98, top of the zone, mixing it in and out. And then off of that, he’s got a 91-mph changeup. So I think having that nice combo, and both of them he’s throwing for strikes. You’ve kind of got to pick and choose what you’re going to go after against him. If you guess wrong, you’re in trouble."

What lies ahead for Luis Gil

Boone said before Thursday’s game that there isn’t any plan in place for when Cole is ready to rejoin the rotation. He didn’t rule out the possibility of a six-man rotation, but also emphasized that it’s not something he’s focusing on since it’s not an imminent issue.

Boone also added that there's no innings limit on the horizon for Gil.

Regardless, Gil’s making it a good problem for the Yankees to have.

Gil has been a revelation through the first two months of the season.

"What's been impressive is how much we've see him mature for the last 18 months," Boone said. "But also in the last weeks, learning from each and every outing. I think he's developed a really good routine, and his work's been excellent. Not only between the lines, but the other days. He's learning, growing. It's been fun to watch that."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Luis Gil breakout season continues in Yankees' win over Mariners