For the second time this season, the New York Yankees (26-21) take on their AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays (26-20). Both holding onto almost identical records, the chase for second in the AL East will come down to the final 15 or so games. This series could make or break either team as both have their sights on the playoffs. A three-game set in The Bronx is on tab. For the Yankees, the starting rotation will be Garcia, Cole and Tanaka and for Toronto, Walker, Roark and Anderson.
Game 1 Final: Blue Jays 6, Yankees 20
Probables: Taijuan Walker (3-2, 2.95 ERA) vs Deivi Garcia (1-1, 3.06 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: NYY – Garcia (2-1) / TOR – Walker (3-3)
Statement. Made.
The New York Yankees are scorching hot and nothing can stop them. A mass 20 run effort from the Bombers propelled them into the winning column. Winning six in a row, New York moves back into second place in the AL East.
On the mound for the Yankees was young phenom Deivi Garcia. Having another stellar outing, Garcia’s hooking slider was in full effect as Toronto was falling for the bait throughout the lineup. The Yankees starting pitchers have been on a roll recently, having their last seven games becoming Quality Starts for the arms. After 7.0 IP, Garcia walks off the mound with 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. After four solid starts to his 2020 campaign, Garcia has a 3.28 ERA.
In the “football-esque” scores, baseballs were flying out of the ballpark. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (7) connected on a solo shot in the second inning for the Blue Jays, but NY retailed with seven runs in the bottom of the inning. RBI singles from Gardner, Wade, LeMahieu counted to a 3-1 lead. Shortly after with two men on, Luke Voit (17) crushed a three-run shot over the left field wall to take a 6-1 lead in the second inning. Voit moved into the MLB home run lead with his 17th shot of the season, and he didn’t stop there. After his shot, Hicks (5) went back-to-back and pummeled a solo shot into the second beck to take a 7-1 lead.
In the third, the Bombers proceeded to score five more times. Loading the bases with no outs, back-to-back HBP against Sanchez and Wade scored two. Then, breaking open the game, DJ LeMahieu hooked a three-run double to push a 12-1 lead. This was just the third inning.
Two runs scored for Toronto on a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (8) home run.
Adding more in the fourth, Gary Sanchez (8) counted for three on a three-run home run to make it a 15-3 lead. Adding to his stellar day, Voit strikes out on an RBI single and follows with a solo home run (18), again! Extending the Yankee lead to 18-3, Voit’s 18th home run solidifies a lead atop MLB’s home run list. In the seventh, Clint Frazier added two more on a two-run home run. Later in the eight, LeMahieu connected on a solo shot which eventually ended the scoring downpour for New York.
One week ago, this team had their heads down and projected to miss the playoffs. Now, the team has an offensive onslaught and their confidence is at an all-time high. Ride the wave, New York. Final: Yankees 20, Blue Jays 6.
Player of the Game: 2B DJ LeMahieu: 4-6, HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R
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Game 2 Final: Blue Jays 2, Yankees 13
Probables: Tanner Roark (2-1, 5.60 ERA) vs Gerrit Cole (5-3, 3.20 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: NYY – Cole (6-3) / TOR – Roark (2-2)
Another night, another offensive downpour for the New York Yankees! A Cy Young outing from ace Gerrit Cole mixed with a 13 run team is exactly what this team needs right now. Having an excellent game and earning his 100th career win, Cole tossed a seven inning, one-hit gem. Tossing 8 K’s with ER 2 BB, Cole lowers his ERA to 3.00.
On the offensive side of the ball, another strong offensive effort led NY to victory. DJ LeMahieu and Kyle Higashioka were the two stars of the game as they counted for a total of 6 hits, 8 RBI and 5 home runs between the two. Putting NY on the board early, DJ LeMahieu (8) led the game with a solo home run for his 8th of the year. This shot counts for LeMahieu’s 5th leadoff home run of the year, one more than Cubs’ Ian Happ for the MLB lead.
In the third, Kyle Higashioka “the home run strokaa” (2) , made the game 3-0 when he belted a two-run shot into Monument Park. An inning later Clint Frazier (9) added one more to the score total with a solo shot. Going yard for his second of the game, DJ LeMahieu (9) made it 6-0 in the fourth. Adding on, Frazier would tally another RBI with a single.
Putting the game out of reach, catcher Kyle Higashioka (3) connected on another home run. Later in the inning, homering on a 2-0 count, Luke Voit launched one into the left field bleachers for his 19th (!) home run of the year, to make it 11-1. With this, Voit is now three ahead of Nelson Cruz and Mike Trout for the MLB home run lead. In the seventh, Higashioka does it again with his third (!!!) home run of the game. A two-run opposite field home run finalized the Yankees damage on the scoreboard.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, games one and two against Toronto makes the first time in history that the Yankees have homered six times in consecutive games, making them the fifth to do so in all of baseball. The offense has been hot, the pitching has been lights out. There’s not much more you can ask from this team as of right now. Winning seven straight, New York has their eyes locked on the playoffs. Final in game two: New York 13, Toronto 2.
Player of the Game: C Kyle Higashioka: 3-4, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R
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Game 3 Final: Blue Jays 7, Yankees 10
Probables: Chase Anderson (0-1, 5.81 ERA) vs Masahiro Tanaka (2-2, 3.16 ERA)
Win / Loss / Save: NYY – Tanaka / TOR – Anderson (0-2) / Chapman (3)
Eight straight! The New York Yankees sweep the Toronto Blue Jays and continue their hot streak. Scoring 43 runs in a three game set is unheard of. The Bombers also hit an MLB record 19 home runs in the span. 6+ homers in three straight games is also an MLB record. How ’bout them Yankees!
Getting his ninth start of the season, Masahiro Tanka went 7.0 effective innings. Striking out five in the winning effort, the right-hander also allowed 3 ER on 7 H.
Getting on the board early, the Yankees were given a golden opportunity in the bottom of the first. Bases loaded, no one out, the Yankees ended up scoring two. An RBI single recorded by Stanton (that was hit 111.2 MPH!) scored LeMahieu and advanced the runners. Though grounding into a double play, Gleyber Torres also scored one.
In the third, Toronto’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (9) hit a solo shot and a Bo Bichette single scored another.
The fourth inning is where the Yankees took control of the game. Scoring seven in the frame and connecting on a franchise-record five home runs, the offense never skipped a beat. Giving the Yanks a 3-2 lead, Gary Sanchez smacked an RBI double. After, Gardner (5), LeMahieu (10) and Voit (20) all went back-to-back-to-back with home runs. The scoring wasn’t done yet as Stanton (4) and Torres (3) added two more on the total to make it a 9-2 lead. Adding one more to the pile, Gary Sanchez (9) connected on a solo shot to make it 10-3.
The bullpen was strong, besides Holder who allowed 4 ER in 0.1 IP. Alrodis Chapman was forced to come into the game and earn the save.
Another night, another dominating win for the New York Yankees. After losing five straight, the script has been flipped and now NY is on an eight game win streak. They’ll look to make the streak double digits as they travel to Fenway for a weekend series against the Red Sox. Yankees take game three 10-3, and sweep the series.
Player of the Game: DH Giancarlo Stanton: 4-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R
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Player of the Series: 1B Luke Voit: 6-14, 2B, 5 R, 4 HR 9 RBI
Upcoming Series: September 18 – 20 @ Boston Red Sox
Photo: ESPN
