Game #147 Toronto Blue Jays (65-82) @ New York Yankees (91-56) - game recap

Andrew McCutchen was 3-3 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored as the Yankees shut out and routed the Blue Jays 11-0

This is the first of three series down the stretch where the Blue Jays could play spoiler. At the moment, the Yankees sit 1.5 games up on Oakland for home field advantage in the wild card game. The other two series where the Blue Jays could play spoiler are a home and home (with a series vs. the Astros sandwiched between) series vs. the Rays. It's very possible the Blue Jays could lose all 9 games as they have a combined 7 wins in 28 games vs. the Rays and Yankees this season. Tonight, the hurting Marco Estrada gamely tried to battle against the Yankees facing Blue Jays killer Masahiro Tanaka. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the 1st as Aaron Hicks singled, scoring Andrew McCutchen
• Two batters later, Giamcarlo Stanton scored on a Didi Gregorius ground out 
• A batter later, Gleyber Torres singled home Hicks
• Two batters later, Luke Voit doubled scoring Torres and Gary Sanchez
• The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as  Brett Gardner singled home Gregorius
• Two batters later, Gardner singled scoring Voit and Gardner
• Marco Estrada pitching line: 2.2IP 6H 8R (all earned) 3BB 2K 55 pitches (34 for strikes)
• The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the 5th as McCutchen homered to right-center
• Masahiro Tanaka pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 2BB 8K 90 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the 8th as Gregorius homered to right
• Four batters later, Kyle Higashioka scored on a rare sac fly double play
• final score: Yankees 11 Blue Jays 0

My Take

• It was not a good night at all for Maarco Estrada. He was lit up for 8 runs on 6 hits and 3 walks. It is a well-known fact that Estrada is not healthy. He missed close to a month with a glute strain. He had 2 strong starts since where he pitched into the seventh inning, but the last month he has been laboring. With 2 weeks left in the season and maybe a start or two left, why not shut him down? You can always have a bullpen day if there aren't enough starters. 
• The Yankees definitely played like a team that doesn't want to travel west for a wild card game. Offensively, they exploded for 11 runs on 14 hits and 7 walks.
• The Blue Jays were 0-7 with runners in scoring position tonight.
• Reese McGuire pinch hit for Devon Travis in the 9th and popped out
• Richard Urena pinch hit for Aledmys Diaz in the 9th and hit a single
• Rowdy Tellez started at first base and was 1-4 at the plate (a rare single).
• Taylor Guerreri took over for Marco Estrada in the bottom of the 3rd. He gave up three hits and walked 2 batters, while striking out 1 in 1.1 innings tonight.
• Justin Shafer pitched 2 innings today, giving up a pair of hits (one a home run) and a walk
• David Paulino pitched the 8th inning and gave up a pair of hits and a pair of runs (only one was earned due to a fielding error by Lourdes Gurriel Jr.) and struck out a batter 
• Luke Maile had a perfect night at the plate with a pair of hits. He also drew a pair of walks.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the three game series as they send rookie Sean Reid-Foley to the mound facing the big lefty CC Sabathia, who is in the twilight of his career.