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 gave his offense a chance in the 11-4, season-saving (or at least season-extending) Game 4 win in The Bronx on Tuesday.

Gil was hit hard early 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 an outing it did not look like he would.

“For him to get into the fifth inning was big,” manager Aaron Boone said of Gil, who was charged with four runs allowed (one scoring after he left) on five hits with two walks in four-plus innings. “As much pen as we had to use [Monday] going into today and hopefully to play again [Wednesday], too, for him to give us a little bit of length and in a winning game not have to overtax too many people was big.”

The righty was not sharp but was not a disaster, either.