Game #86 New York Yankees (48-37) v. Toronto Blue Jays (47-38)

 

Game #85 New York Yankees (48-37) @ Toronto Blue Jays (47-38) - game recap

 

George Springer drove in 7 runs, including a grand slam, in a mammoth 12-5 comeback win over the Yankees

After a huge comback win over the Yankees thanks to a 4-run 6th inning, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games on the annual Canada Day game. The Blue Jays were looking to improve on a dubious 16-29 Canada Day record. They did not play on Canada day in 1981 (strike), 1993 (off-day) and 2020 (pandemic; season didn't start until July 24th. Jonatan Clase was optioned to AAA-ball and Leo Jimenez was recalled from AAA-ball and started at SS. Kevin Gausman got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Alejandro Kirk was DH today. George Springer was in the lineup in RF despite leaving yesterday's game after slamming throat-first into the knee of Jazz Chisholm Jr. Davis Schneider was in LF and Andre Gimenez was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and snap the 2-game Canada Day losing streak? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Jasson Dominguez singled scoring Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Judge
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as George Springer whacked a solo blast to left-center
• Five batters later,  Andre Gimenez hammered a 3-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Davis Schneider and Myles Straw 
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 5IP 6H 2R (both earned) 4BB 3K 99 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Yankees got one back in the top of the 7th on a fielding error by Ernie Clement on a ball hit by Giancarlo Stanton that scored Cody Bellinger
• A batter later, Jazz Chisholm Jr scored on a fielder's choice hit by Dominguez. Vladimir Guerrero Jr was charged with a fielding error on the play 
• Max Fried pitching line: 6IP 3H 4R (all earned) 2BB 2K 99 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Clement singled scoring Gimenez
• A batter later,  Springer drilled a grand slam to left-center; also scoring Gimenez, Tyler Heineman and Addison Barger 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 8th on a bases loaded walk to Clement that forced in Nathan Lukes
• A batter later, Springer singled scoring Gimenez and Barger
• The Yankees got one back in the top of the 9th on a fielder's choice hit by Dominguez that scored Aaron Judge
• Final score: Blue Jays 12 Yankees 5

My Take: 

• Kevin Gausman battled through 5 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3. Gausman gave up a pair in the first, retired 5 in a row then worked his way out of a couple of jams. He kept the big bats of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton largely in check and more importantly in the ballpark
• The bullpen gave up three runs on 3 hits, a pair of fielding errors, 3 walks while striking out 2 over the last 4 innings. Which lefty reliever will last longer: Mason Fluharty or Justin Bruihl, who had 2 of the runs charged to him and retired just one batter? Brayden Fisher, who got the Blue Jays out of the mess Bruihl created, was credited with the win
• George Springer was excellent this afternoon. Less than 24 hours after leaving yesterday's game after slamming throat first into Jazz Chisholm Jr, Springer drove in 7 runs, including a grand slam, and led the Blue Jays to victory. To the players and managers picking the reserves for the all-star game, pick Springer, arguably the comeback player of the year, and dialling the clock back at least 5 years.
• Andres Gimenez also loomed large in this game, scoring three times and driving in 3 runs
• The Blue Jays were an impressive 5-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for their 4th straight win, 15th series win and a chance to draw even with the Yankees for 1st place in the AL East. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Yankees righty Will Warner

Game #85 New York Yankees (48-36) v. Toronto Blue Jays (46-38)

 

Game #84 New York Yankees (48-36) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-38) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in 3 runs in a 5-4 comeback win over the Yankees

After notching a huge series win over the Red Sox thanks to some timely hitting and great work from the bullpen, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games as they started a week long homestand against the Yankees, who won the first series back in the Bronx at the end of April, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-7. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Bo Bichette was a late scratch with right knee discomfort (Ernie Clement was at SS). George Springer was in RF with Will Wagner DH'ing today. Myles Straw got the start in CF. Addison Barger was at the hot corner. Davis Schneider got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Jazz Chisholm Jr. Whacked a 2-run blast to right and into the Yankees bullpen; also scoring Trent Grisham
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 5th on a ground out by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  that scored Ernie Clement 
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 3H 2R (both earned) 0BB 7K 71 pitches (47 for strikes)
• The Yankees added a run in the top of the 6th as Giancarlo Stanton singled scoring Jasson Dominguez
• The Blue jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Nathan Lukes singled scoring was. Davis Schneider 
• Two batters later, Clement singled scoring Straw
• Two batters later,  Guerrero Jr singled scoring Lukes and Clement. Springer was thrown out at 3B on the play and removed from the game after slamming throat-first into the knee of Yankees 3B Chisholm Jr.
• Carlos Rodon pitching line: 5IP 5H 2R (both earned) 3BB 4K 96 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Yankees got one back in the top of the 8th as Cody Bellinger whacked a solo blast to right
• Jeff Hoffman threw a scoreless 9th for his 19th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Yankees 4

My Take:

• Max Scherzer threw 5 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 3 hits while walking none and striking out 7. There has to be concern about the way Scherzer reacted with 2 outs in the 5th inning.  Having thrown about 70 pitches Scherzer winced and called Alejandro Kirk to the mound. Manager John Schneider and trainer Jose Minstrel quickly joined them on the mound.  Scherzer convinced them he was ok to finish the inning, and was rightfully lifted at the end of the inning. Given the injury history with the thumb affecting other aspects of his body, they should have pulled him right there and then. The Blue Jays can ill afford to have Scherzer lost for the next couple of months. 
• The bullpen gave up 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 4 and striking out 5 over the last four innings. Mason Fluharty may need to be sent to the minors to work on things he he can't get out a left-handed batter. The good Chad Green showed up today and for once he kept the ball in the ballpark. Jeff Hoffman looks back. The Blue Jays closer was dealing tonight and making the Yankees batters look silly
• Here's hoping George Springer was merely winded when he ran into the knee of Jazz Chisholm Jr. The Blue Jays outfielder immediately left the field and went straight to the training room after being briefly attended to be a busy Jose Minstrel. Wouldn't be surprised if he misses a day or two.
• Offensively, Vlad led the way, driving in 3 runs. Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement, who also scored twice, drove in the other Blue Jays runs
• The Blue Jays were 4-11 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games in the all-important, "elbows up" Canada Day game. The Blue Jays will also be trying to improve their record on Canada Day to 17-29. They will also be looking to snap a 2-game losing skid on Canada Day. Kevin Gausman starts against Yankees lefty Max Fried

Game #84 New York Yankees (48-35) v. Toronto Blue Jays (45-38)