The Yankees thrived on home runs this weekend in the Bronx, and it showed as they pummeled past the Toronto Blue Jays for a 3 game sweep ( 7-5,11-6,10-2). In this series, the Yankees made some home ,run history relived their storied past, and much more! So let's take a deep dive into the Yankees 3 game sweep of the Jays that finished this season long 11 game home stand on a power note!
GAME 1: BLUE JAYS 5 YANKEES 7 ( 7 innings) , STROMAN VS LYYN
This was a battle of the bullpens at the end, but it was an interesting pitching matchup, New York native Marcus Stroamn for Toronto, and Lance Lyyn for the Yankees who has been incredible, since the Yankees acquired him from the Minnesota Twins. After 2 strong starts and 1 strong bullpen outing, Friday didn't start out good for him, as he walked the first batter of the game, (Curtis Grandson), then after forceout at second, Lyyn threw a wild pitch that ended up turing into a run ,as Kendrys Morales ( after Lynn walked a batter ) nocked an RBI single to left to make it 1-0 Blue Jays. Lyyn would get his first strikeout, (by getting Russel Martin down swinging), but Kevin Pillar would then notch an RBI single of his own to push the Toronto lead to 2-0.
After another walk, Aleymys Diaz would clear the gold bases , as he drove in 2 more runs to push the Jays lead to 4-0, and complete a 4 run first. Lance did not have a good start to the game, but settled down and threw 4 straight solid innings before being relived.
The Yankees offense meanwhile, would get to their opponent Marcus Stroman, as in their first ups after Aaron Hicks got on,Didi Gregarious tripled him home, for the Yankees first run of the game. Then, an RBI double by the red hot rookie Miguel Andujar, cut the Jays lead in half, at 4-2 after 1. The score would stay that way until the 4th inning ,as with two runners on, Neil walker mashed a 3 run oppo-taco to right field to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead! However, the Yankees fielding had been sloppy all. night and continued to be when Greg Bird misplayed a ball that allowed Curtis Grandreson to score from second and to tie the game at 5 in the 5th.
But the Yankees offense would respond , in the bottom half of the 5th , as with runners at the corners and 1 out, rookie Gleyber Torres beat out the double play ball attempt to 1st base, and just like that, the Yankees were back in front at 6-5! Noteworthy to mention here, that the Yankees bullpen played a key part in their win, as Chad Green and David Robertson both pitched brilliantly, after reliving Lyyn to keep the Blue Jays offense at bay. In the bottom the 7th, Giancarlo Stanton hit an absolute 435FT moonshot to right center field that gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead, and ultimately brought rain ,as the tarp would come onto the field, and then after an 85 minutes, the game was called, and the Yankees were awarded a rain shortened 7-5 victory!
HERO: NEIL WALKER. ZERO : MARCUS STROMAN . UNSUNG HERO : GIANCARLO STANTON (Also reciving consideration for the unsung hero, was Chad Green, who pitched 2 scoreless innings)
GAME 2: BLUE JAYS 6 YANKEES 11, REID - FOLLY VS SEVERINO
Their was already a lot of buzz in the stadium, even before the game got underway, as the Yankees honored the greatest team of all time, the 1998 New York Yankees. The 98 Yankees,weren't just led by one player, everyone chipped into this 125 win championship team, that until today is still standing, as the most wins in an MLB season including playoffs. This Yankees team started out 1-4, and were absolutely hammered early in the season. But they responded, and went 124-46 the rest of the way to finish 125-50, including 21-4 in their last 25 games, and 11-2 in the playoffs alone!
The Yankees played a video montage, and each player had an ovation, as they rode around the field. But once the game got underway, it was all business ,as with their predecessors on hand, the youngsters showed their power in this stress- free victory, in front of a legendary team, that knows all about blowout wins! Didi Gregorius , got Saturday's home run party started,( as the Yankees got to rookie Sean Reid -Folly early, and often ) with a 2run HR in the bottom of the first , to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead! The Yankees would continue to put runs on the board , as a sac fly by Austin Romine in the second inning, put the Yankees up 3-0! The Yankees wouldn't stop there, and continued torch Reid-Folly in the 3rd, when Miguel Andujar( with the bases loaded) cleared the bases with a 2 run double to push the yankees lead up to 5,which would become a 6 run game on an RBI groundout by Greg Bird later in the inning.
Remember how I said the Yankees made HR history this series? well this next blast is where they made it, as in the 4th inning , Giancarlo Stanton blasted another moonshot ( this time 410 FT) to left center field for a 7-0 Yankees lead, and most importantly a new team record ! With this multi HR game, the Yankees suppress the 1961 Yankees,and the 1966 Braves for the most multi HR games in a season with 25! In the 5th, rookie sensation, Miguel Andujar went deep to give the Yankees an 8-0 lead and that was it for Reid-Folly ,who pitched 5 innings of 8 run ball, not good.
Meanwhile , Luis Severino on the other hand was incredible, as he tried to rebound from a 7 straight not vintage Sevvy start skid. Although Luis got tired in the 6th, he was still incredible , going 5 innings , while allowing 1 run ( in the 6th, as he pitched to a couple of batters)and striking out 8.
After a clutch performance the previous night, the Yankees bullpen struggled in this game, as Tommy kahlne came in ,and got litt up, as he allowed a 4 runs in that 5 run 6th inning , as he gave up an RBI single to Daney Jansen,and then with the bases loaded, Tommy gave up a bases clearing 3run double ( with was tried to stretch into a triple, but was thrown out to end the inning) to former Yankee Billy Mckinny to make it an 8-5 ballgame.
However, the yankees offense would come to life in the bottom of the 8th inning off Jays reliever Luis Santos, as Greg Bird snapped out of his slump with a solo HR, Aaron Hicks racked up an RBI of his own with a bases loaded walk, and last but not least, a sac fly by Didi put the Yankees up 11-5, a garbage run by the Jays in the 9th made it 11-6 final , in favor of the Yankees!
HERO: DIDI GREGORIUS ( Luis Severino also received consideration for hero of the game) ,ZERO: SEAN REID- FOLLY, AND UNSUNG HERO: GIANCARLO STANTON
GAME 3: BLUE JAYS 2 YANKEES 10 ,BORUCKI VS HAPP
This was a " Mystery game" as they call it, and the reason for that is, JA Happ, was facing his former team , for the first time since he was traded to the bronx in July. On the other hand, Ryan Borucki was looking to move his record to a wining one in his rookie season, and the way he could do that, would be dominating the New York Yankees. Well , when the game started , it seemed like the Blue jays would have the upper hand on Happ as Ryan Gritchuck blasted a moonshot to left center field for an early 1-0 BlueJays lead in the first. Things would get little crazy for "Happer" as he would allow two straight singles after the HR, but was able to get out of the inning, and keep the Yankees deficit at 1.
One thing that you want to do when you are facing rookie pitcher is jump on him early ,and the Yankees did just that, as After Hicks and Stanton worked 2 straight walks, Miguel Andujar stayed hot by delivering an RBI single to drive in Hicks and send Stanton to 3rd, to tie the game at1. The yankees were not nearly done, as Didi Gregorius beat out a ground ball for an infield single, that scored Stanton to give the yankees a 2-1 lead! However, Didi seemed shaken up on the play, as he collided with Toronto first baseman Kendrys Morales, and took a hard fall, Gregorius would stay in the game, and would go on to score later in the inning, but left the game in the 3rd inning ,and was taken to the hospital ,we currently don't have an update on him yet ,but when we do, we will let you know ASAP.
Anyway back to the game, a single by ROY ( rookie of the year candidate) Gleyber Torres set the stage for Greg Bird,, and with the bases loaded and still nobody out, Greg Bird flapped his wings ,and mashed a grand slam to right to compete the 6 run outburst, and give theYankees a comfortable five run cushion, at 6-1! As for Borucki, he didn't even last an inning , as he gave up 6 runs on only 4 hits in 0.2 IP ( innings pitched). The offense was all Happ needed as he once again had a gritty start , going 5.1 IP, while allowing 2 runs (As he gave up a HR to Morales in the 6th) and striking out 8.
The Yankees offense wasn't done for the day, as they would answer that Morales home run, with a 4 run 6th! The first run came, when Giancarlo Stanton notched an RBI single for his 12th RBI in his last 14 games, putting the Yankees up 7-2! Then, with runners on the corners and 0 outs, Miguel Andujar, beat out a double play ball attempt by beating the throw to first base , for another RBI, which stretched Yankees up 8-2! The Yankees would score their final 2runs ,on a 2 out bases loaded, 2 run single by Kyle Higashikoa , completing the 4 run 6th.
As for the Yankees bullpen , Jonathan Holder, and Sonny Gray kept the Blue Jays offense at bay, and the Yankees completed the sweep with a 10-2 pounding of the Blue jays!
HERO: JA HAPP"HAPPER" ZERO: RYAN BORUCKI, UNSUNG HERO: GREG BIRD
SERIES MVP: GIANCARLO STANTON
LEFTOVERS: The Yankees now have five players who have at least 2 HRs this year, Judge, Stanton, Didi ,Hicks,and now Andujar.
The Yankees mashed 7 HRs in the 3 game sweep, 4 in game2.
JA Happ improved to 4-0 since going to the Yankees ,with another win on Sunday .
BLUE JAYS RECORD :55-69, YANKEES RECORD 78-46
THE YANKEES NOW HAVE 202HRS THIS SEASON, HR NUMBER 200, WAS MIGUEL ANDUJAR'S IN GAME 2.
UP NEXT:The Yankees get an off day on Monday,before playing against the Miami Marlins (50-76) in Miami at Marlins Park onTuesday night. Mashriro Tanaka will get the ball for the Yankees to open this 2 game series ,while Pablo Lopez will get the ball for the Marlins.
Game time 7:10 PM
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