Game #118 New York Yankees (76-39) @ Toronto Blue Jays (47-71) - game recap

Reese McGuire was 4-4 with 3 runs scored and an RBI in a losing effort as the Yankees doubled up on the Blue Jays 12-6

After a successful ten-day road trip where they went 7-3, they returned home for the first time since the trade deadline with a decidedly different team. Stroman and Sogard were dealt before the plane left the tarmac for Kansas City. David Phelps, Daniel Hudson, Aaron Sanchez and Joe Biagini were all sent packing on or before deadline day. Don't tell the Blue Jays they are worse off. They have been playing loose and like their jobs are on the line. Bo Bichette had hits in his first 10 career games, and has set a new franchise mark for extra base hits to start a career. Vlad has taken off after showing some fatigue the week or two after his outstanding Home run derby performance. Tonight, the Blue Jays take on a Yankees team that knows a thing or two about making the most out of little. Their current IL list is big enough to field a team and then some! Prior to the game, the Blue Jays sent down Brock Stewart to get a fresh arm up. Righty Zack Godley took a seat in the bullpen tonight. Thomas Pannone got the start today. Reese McGuire got his second straight start behind the plate  Perhaps Danny Jansen is still feeling the effects of the ball he took off he nether-region a couple of days ago. Cavan Biggio and Vlad were back in the lineup a day after sitting out the road trip finale. Could the Blue Jays extend the winning streak against a red-hot Yankees team that has won 8 straight? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Yankees opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Gio Urshela slammed a 2-run bomb to left-center also scoring DJ LeMahieu
• The Yankees added a run in the top of the 3rd on a wild pitch by Thomas Pannone that scored Bryvec Valera
• A batter later, Urshela smashed his second two-run blast of the game to left-center also scoring LeMahieu
• Two batters later, Cameron Maybin singled home Didi Gregorius
• A batter, Mike Tauchman hammered a two-bomb to right
• Thomas Pannone pitching line: 2.1 IP 6H 7R (all earned) 0BB 1K 55 pitches (37 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got on the board in the bottom of the 5th as Derek Fisher led off with a solo blast to right-center 
• Two batters later, Bo Bichette hammered a two-run bomb off the basing of the 3rd deck in left; also scoring Reese McGuire
• Two batters later, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Cavan Biggio
• The Yankees added a pair of runs in the top of the 6th as LeMahieu singled scoring Mike Ford and Valera
• Domingo German pitching line: 5IP 8H 4R (3 earned) 1BB 3K 90 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 6th as Bichette doubled home McGuire
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 8th as McGuire lined a solo drive to right
• The Yankees added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Tauchman singled scoring Urshela and Maybin
• Final score: Yankees 12 Blue Jays 6

My Take:

• It was not Thomas Pannone's finest hour to be sure. The Blue Jays lefty got burned on three separate occasions for leaving balls in the middle of the plate. Most MLB teams will capitalize on those pitches, but the Yankees are especially adept at hitting balls over the wall. Pannone also threw two wild pitches and hit a batter. Given the lack of alternative starting options, it's likely Pannone remains in the starting rotation for the remainder of the season.
• A very scary moment in the 9th. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. took a very awkward and hard spill at 1st base trying to beat out an infield single. He also went down hard on his left quad. In fact, when I saw it on my stream, I immediately thought of when Troy Tulowitzki badly injured his ankle on a very similar play. Don't be shocked if Gurriel's season is in jeopardy. Certainly his availability for the weekend series vs. his brother and the Houston Astros would appear to be very much up in the air. Too bad because Gurriel Jr. was 2-5 tonight with an RBI. He has emerged an elite outfielder with an incredible 9 outfield assists and was one of the Blue Jays better hitters with a .277 average with 19 HR and 46RBI heading into tonight's game.
• Onto some happier news. Bo Bichette continues to hammer MLB pitching and he's now on par with some very elite company. He extended his extra base hit streak to nine games (first to do so since Ted Williams in 1939. He also extended his hitting streak to 11 games, 3rd longest to start a career behind Rocco Baldelli (13 game streak) and Eddie Murphy (12 game hitting streak). Bichette also set a new MLB mark for most consecutive games with a double (9). Think of all the elite players who have played in the MLB and Bichette is shattering these records at age 21!
• Reese McGuire sure took advantage of playing two days in a row. He was 4 for 4 at the plate, scoring three times, including a solo home run. If I'm Charlie Montoyo I stick with McGuire while he has a hot stick. However, it's more likely than not that Danny Jansen returns behind the plate tomorrow
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as Sean-Reid Foley tries to have a better outing than five days ago when he gave up 4 runs (just one earned due to errors in the field) on 4 hits while walking 4 and striking out 2. The Yankees will counter with ex-Blue Jay lefty JA Happ.