The Toronto Blue Jays headed to the Bronx to face the New York Yankees in the first of three games, starting Friday night.
The Blue Jays sent Kevin Gausman (9-8, 4.56) to face off against one time Blue Jay Marcus Stroman (7-6, 4.18) for the Yankees. Gausman threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits, walking three and punching out two while taking a no decision. Stroman, on the other hand, threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs over eight hits, walking one and striking out three to take his seventh loss of the year.
The Jays hit Stroman early, scoring right out of the gate. An infield single from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, a double by Ernie Clement scored two more runs to extend the Toronto lead to 3-0.
The Yankees would strike back right away in the bottom half. Aaron Judge smacked a two run shot to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 3-2. That was Judge’s 40th long ball of the year, leading the entire MLB.
Both teams would get through a scoreless 2nd before more runs were scored in the top of the 3rd. Spencer Horwitz drove in the newly acquired Joey Loperfido to give Toronto a 4-2 lead. Clement followed up with another RBI single to make it 5-2. Then, Brian Serven drove in two runs with a single of his own, extending the Blue Jays’ lead to 7-2.
However, the Yankees showed why their offence was so dangerous as they didn’t go away quietly. Anthony Volpe hit a two run homer in the bottom of the 5th to cut the Toronto lead to 7-4. Later in the inning, Austin Wells drove in one run with an RBI single to make it 7-5.
The Blue Jays would get one of those runs back in the top half of the 6th, when Horwitz singled to drive in Serven, extending the lead to 8-5.
In tonight’s game, four Blue Jays would combine for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits and one walk, while punching out seven to help Toronto secure an 8-5 win in New York. Brendon Little (1-1, 4.05) would earn his first career big league win while Chad Green (3-2, 1.62) secured his eighth save in eight tries this year.
Jose Berrios (9-8, 3.93) will take the ball for the Blue Jays as the Yankees will send Carlos Rodon (11-7, 4.34) as Toronto will look to take the series in the Bronx on Saturday.
