Game #3 NY Yankees (2-1) @ Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) - game recap

For the second year in a row, the Blue Jays are starting the season 0-2. Interestingly, the Blue Jays have the same offensive output (3 runs scored). Every Blue Jay player, save for backup catcher Luke Maille, and starting pitchers Estrada, Marcus Stroman and Jaimie Garcia, who have yet to make their first starts, has seen some playing time. Did Toronto prevail for the first time this season? Here's the game recap

Game Highlights:

• nice early DP turned by Yangervis Solarte and Gift Ngoepe
• The Blue Jays got their first lead of the series and season on a Justin Smoak single, which plated Josh Donaldson who doubled in the previous at-bat
• Yankees LF Billy McKinney left the game after the Smoak single after he crashed into the center field wall on the Donaldson double. Brett Gardener took over.
• Smoak doubled the Blue Jays lead in the 3rd, bringing home Steve Pearce on a double.
• Tyler Austin tied the game on a 2 run HR to left-center; Brandon Drury, who led off the inning with a walk, also scored 
• Another scary moment as Yankees reliever Adam Warren was drilled by an Almedys Diaz grounder. He left the game
• The next batter Luke Maille plated the Blue Jays third run, scoring Kevin Pillar from second.
• Austin tied the game with his second HR of the game at the top of the 7th with 2 outs
• Yangervis Solarte gave the Blue Jays their 4th lead of the game with a solo shot to center leading off the bottom of the 8th
• Marco Estrada pitching line: 7IP 4H 3R (all earned) 3BB 2K 91 pitches (57 for strikes)
• CC Sabathia pitching line: 5IP 5H 2R (1 earned) 2BB 4K 84 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Kevin Pillar added a run on a wild pitch
• Roberto Osuna notched his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout to end the game
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Yankees 3

My Take:

• Bobblehead day was a good omen for Justin Smoak. He was 3 for 4 at the plate, driving in the first two Blue Jay runs. In the field, he was like a vacuum cleaner, sucking up every ball that went his way. Smoak is looking to prove that the 2017 season where he .270 with 38 HR and 90 RBI, was not a fluke. He will be counted on to be a key contributor to the Jays offence 
• Luke Maille got his first start behind the plate. He and Marco Estrada did a great job in keeping the Yankees hitters off-balance with the fastball and change-up. Estrada going 7 innings saved the bullpen for tomorrow. Maille also drove in a run.
• So far this series, the Jays have done a pretty good job in limiting the Yankees 4 big hitters: Giancarlo Stanton and Didi Gregorius each had a double today and Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez were 0-4 at the plate. All four of these batters are excellent hitters and will get their extra base hits. Getting them out is about making your pitches which is what Estrada did
• The bottom of the Yankees lineup is where the Jays have struggled. Today Tyler Austin had a pair of HR to account for the Yankees offence.
• This is the way the Blue Jays need to manufacture runs. Gone are the days where they will knock the cover off the ball. Today Smoak drove in a pair of runs off base hits and Pillar created a run on a wild pitch after stealing third base. 
• Great first win of the season. Series wraps up tomorrow with Marcus Stroman facing off against Sonny Gray.