Game #61 New York Yankees (38-22) @ Toronto Blue Jays (23-38) - game recap

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a huge three run bomb to give the Blue Jays the lead in the 8th as the Blue Jays came from behind to defeat the Yankees 11-7

After a shocking win over the mighty Yankees last night the Blue Jays go for their first series win in six weeks (the last series win was the sweep of Oakland the end of April). It won't be an easy task with James Paxton, who threw a no-hitter his last start in Toronto. Rookie Trent Thornton was on the mound looking for his second career victory. Teoscar Hernandez got the start in CF (he replaced Jonathan Davis on the roster in hopes of better offence). Vlad got a half day off DH'ing with Brandon Drury getting the nod at third base. Could the Blue Jays notch their first series win in 6 weeks? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Randal Grichuk hit an opposite field 2-run shot to right into the Yankees bullpen also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 2nd as Cavan Biggio singled home Teoscar Hernandez
• The Yankees got one back in the top of the 4th as Gary Sanchez smacked a solo shot to left-center
• The Yankees got another run back in the top of the 5th on a single by Cameron Maybin that scored Brett Gardner
• A batter later, DJ LeMahieu singled scoring Gio Urshela
• Two batters later, Sanchez singled home Maybin
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Urshela made a bad throw on a hit by Guerrero Jr., allowing Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to score from first.
• James Paxton pitching line: 4.2IP 4H 4R (3 earned) 3BB 4K 83 pitches (55 for strikes)
• Trent Thornton pitching line: 5IP 5H 4R (all earned) 3BB 4K 92 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Yankees added three runs in the top of the 6th as LeMahieu smashed a screamer into the Blue Jays bullpen in left also scoring Clint Frazier and Maybin
• The Blue Jays got two back in the bottom of the 7th as Hernandez ripped a triple down the right field line scoring Guerrero Jr. and Grichuk
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Guerrero Jr. annihilated a three-run bomb to dead center also scoring Gurriel Jr. and Eric Sogard
• Two batters later, Grichuk whacked a solo shot to dead center
• A batter later, Brandon Drury crushed a solo bomb to the second deck in left
• Final score: Blue Jays 11 Yankees 7 

My Take:

• James Paxton and Trent Thornton had remarkably similar outings. Both pitchers pitched into the 5th inning, both threw 55 strikes (Paxton took 83 pitches and Thornton threw 92 pitches), both allowed 4 runs (all were earned for Thornton and three were earned for Paxton), both had 3 walks and both struck out 4 batters). Thornton was the pitcher who was more or less let off the hook by his teammates as he left trailing by one. Paxton was pulled with the game tied so he lost out on the win and Adam Ottavino got the final out in the 5th to save Paxton from a possible loss.
• The bats came out again in a huge way, scoring 7 runs combined in the 7th and 8th inning, with no hit being bigger than Vlad's 3-run blast to give the Blue Jays the lead. Teoscar Hernandez also came up with a clutch hit in the 7th to get the Blue Jays within 1 run. Randal Grichuk hit his second HR of the day after getting drilled in the arm on a fastball an inning prior. It's great to see the bats come alive
• Other than Derek Law giving up the three-run blast, the bullpen was solid again. Sam Gaviglio and Ken Giles held the Yankees to just a leadoff single in the 9th and a walk in the 7th. Giles and Gaviglio combined to strike out five Yankees batters.
• Up next, the Blue Jays go for the series sweep! Edwin Jackson is on the mound looking for his first win in a Blue Jays uniform. JA Happ will be making his first start as a Yankee since the trade last July. Expect Happ to get a warm welcome back from the crowd.