Game #155- New York Yankees (95-59) @ Toronto Blue Jays (87-68) - game recap

 

George Springer scored both Blue Jays runs in a 5-2 come-from behind loss to the Yankees. With the win the Yankees clinched the AL East title 

After an extra innings win yesterday, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games and get their 25th series win of the season. Aaron Judge, who did not hit a HR yesterday, was looking to tie Roger Maris for the Yankees single season franchise record for HR. Jose Berrios got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Cavan Biggio at 1st base. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games and notch their 25th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as George Springer drilled a solo bomb to dead center
• The Yankees tied the game in the top of the 3rd as Anthony Rizzo singled scoring Kyle Higashioka
• A batter later, Gleyber Torres singled scoring Aaron Judge
• The Yankees added a run in the top of the 5th as Torres singled home Judge
• The Yankees added a run in the top of the 6th as Aaron Hicks doubled scoring Higashioka
• Three batters later, Torres singled scoring Hicks 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Springer
• Jose Berrios pitching line: 5.1IP 9H 5R (all earned) 2BB 7K 95 pitches (68 for strikes)
• Jameson Taillon pitching line: 7.1IP 7H 2R (both earned) 0BB 6K 94 pitches (62 for strikes)
• Lou Trivino got the final 5 outs for his 11th save of the season
• Final score: Yankees 5 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Jose Berrios the bad showed up today. He gave up 5 runs on 9 hits while walking 2 and striking out 7. He actually retired the first five batters he faced, but then the Yankees started getting to him, striking for runs in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings. I still say the Blue Jays cannot risk him starting in an elimination game given his proneness to meltdowns. 
• The bullpen did a decent job, holding the Yankees to a pair of hits and a pair of walks while striking out 6 over the final 3.1 innings
• Offensively, the Blue Jays were able to produce little against Yankees pitching, managing a pair of runs on 8 hits. One of those hits was a leadoff HR by Springer. 
• The Aaron Judge HR watch continues. Judge remains a HR shy of tying Roger Maris' club record of 61 set in 1961.
• In terms of the WC race, The Rays won in extra innings, the Orioles were down four runs with the bases juiced in the top  of the 9th and the Mariners were down 1-0 to the Rangers in the 6th. The Rays are now a game and a half back of the Blue Jays for the top WC spot.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to notch their 25th series win of the season and continue to keep Aaron Judge in the yard. Mitch White starts against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole