The Toronto Blue Jays looked to take the rubber match of their series against the New York Yankees, but the Bronx bombers had other plans, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Yariel Rodriguez (1-4, 4.31) got the ball for the Blue Jays, he faced Gerrit Cole (3-2, 5.4-) for the Yankees. Rodriguez threw 4 2/3 innings, giving up no runs on four hits, walking one and punching out four. Cole threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs over six hits, walking none and striking out four. Both starters were given no decisions.
This game had some theatrics as a couple Yankees got ejected. Manager Aaron Boone and hitting coach James Rowson both got tossed from the game in the 7th inning after arguing balls and strikes with home plate umpire Tripp Gibson.
The scoring started early for the Blue Jays, as they put runs on the board in the top of the 2nd. Addison Barger broke the ice with an RBI double, giving the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. Ernie Clement drove in another run with an RBI single to extend the Toronto lead to 2-0.
Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodriguez was cruising, but the Yankees threatened in the bottom of the 5th. Rodriguez walked Juan Soto with two outs, then, manager John Schneider pulled Rodriguez after throwing just 76 pitches. Rodriguez seemed to disagree with the move as he shook his head and muttered to himself as he walked to the dugout.
Brendon Little would then take over, intentionally walking Aaron Judge and then walking Austin Wells. Zach Pop was then summoned to get the Blue Jays out of the jam, and he did just that, striking out Giancarlo Stanton to keep the score at 2-0.
Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, that effort would be gone as the Yankees came back in the bottom of the 6th. Trent Grisham grounded out to drive in a run and cut the deficit to 2-1. D.J. LaMahieu then tied the game at two with a sacrifice fly.
The Yankees would then take the lead in the bottom of the 7th, when Juan Soto stepped up and hit a solo shot to make it 3-2.
The Blue Jays threatened in the top half of the 8th. Joey Loperfido reached on an error by Trent Grisham, and although Vladimir Guerrero Jr. flew out, Spencer Horwitz and Daulton Varsho both drew walks to load the bases with one out. Alejandro Kirk came up and hit a towering fly ball to deep left field, but the ever so tall Aaron Judge made the catch on the warning track, but it was deep enough for Loperfido to tag up and score. 3-3 game.
At this point, dark cloud started to take over the New York skies and inevitably so, the game went into a rain delay. The delay lasted about an hour before play resumed in the bottom of the 8th.
Both teams couldn’t score in the next inning and a half, so the game went to extras.
The Blue Jays weren’t able to muster anything in the top of the 10th, but the Yankees did so in the bottom of the 10th. Grisham started off the inning with a sacrifice bunt, moving Anthony Volpe to third with one out. The Blue Jays then deployed a five man infield to try and cut the winning run at home, but it didn’t matter as LaMahieu hit a screamer up the middle for an RBI single to give the Yankees a 4-3 walk off win.
With this loss, Toronto dropped to 10 games below .500 once again, with a record of 51-61. The Blue Jays will take an off day on Monday and head back home to host a three game series against another division foe in the Baltimore Orioles. The Blue Jays will send Chris Bassitt (8-10, 4.02) as he will face Grayson Rodriguez (13-4, 3.86) for the Orioles in game one on Tuesday night.
