A rather thin bullpen cost the Toronto Blue Jays dearly on Wednesday in a 6-4 loss to the New York Yankees.
With shortstop Jordan Romano and relievers Yimi Garcia and Chad Green unavailable, the Blue Jays were unable to deploy their favorable options and the Yankees offense took advantage.
Giancarlo Stanton homered in the ninth inning and Aaron Judge added a two-run double to help New York avoid a three-game sweep.
“The guys in front of me had some really good plate appearances to put us in this situation,” Judge said. When you step up to the plate, you just have to have a little fun and have a good swing. »
Blue Jays reliever Erik Swanson (0-1) entered the ninth inning and made his debut this season. It was his third pitch that Stanton landed about 437 feet from home plate.
“He almost hit the ball out of the ballpark,” Judge said. I think that’s what gave everyone the momentum. »
Replacement hitter Jose Trevino hit a run-scoring single against Tim Mayza to tie the game. After Juan Soto drew a walk to load the bases, Judge hit a double down the left field line to push Trevino and Alex Verdugo to the plate.
Victor Gonzalez (1-0) got a takedown in the eighth inning and signed the victory. Clay Holmes closed the books to record a seventh save this season.
” A bitter taste “
Daulton Varsho hit two home runs for the Blue Jays (10-9), who saw their four-game winning streak end. The Yankees (13-6) dominated Toronto 11-9 in hits.
“It’s a bitter taste when you get a day off [jeudi], underlined Blue Jays manager John Schneider. You have the sweep within reach against a very good team and you don’t get the job done. It was still a good home stay. »
Garcia and Romano both pitched Tuesday while Green was dealing with a sore shoulder, according to Schneider. Trevor Richards pitched in the sixth inning while Genesis Cabrera handled the seventh and eighth innings.
Varsho’s two-run long ball in the second inning came against starter Marcus Stroman. He added a solo slap at the expense of Caleb Ferguson in the seventh.
“He has a lot of potential,” Schneider said. We’re seeing it right now. He hits the ball very hard. »
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman was efficient for five innings on the mound. Soto hit a solo homer in the eighth inning for the Yankees, who stopped their losing streak to three.
Gausman loaded the bases in the first inning, after two walks and a single, but he got out of trouble by striking out Gleyber Torres.
In the second inning, Davis Schneider singled before Varsho catapulted Stroman’s offering into the stands for his third four-goal effort of the campaign.
Gausman then recovered well. He allowed an earned run in the fifth inning, following Soto’s two-out double.
Gausman struck out Judge to complete a 101-pitch start. The right-hander allowed four hits and three walks.
“I still attacked the zone throughout the match,” he noted. I think we did a good job of varying the pitches. »
Stroman, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2012 and spent six seasons with the team, almost gave up a home run to Bo Bichette in the sixth inning, but the ball landed on the top of the fence.
A hit by Justin Turner pushed Bichette to third base and ended Stroman’s afternoon of work. Ferguson struck out backup hitter Ernie Clement and struck out Schneider.
Varsho hit Ferguson’s first pitch of the seventh inning over the fence for his second career multi-homer game.
Kevin Kiermaier came in to score after a sacrifice from Bichette later in the round.