Once again when they needed too, Masahiro Tanaka came through for the Yankees with 8 scoreless innings today, while the Yankees offense and bullpen did enough to ensure he got the win, as the Yankees edged the Blue Jays 1-0 on a sunny Sunday (8/11) afternoon in Toronto.
The win earns the Yankees a split of the series and drops their magic number for the AL East crown down to 36.
Throughout the game, the Yankees hitter made Jays starter Trevor Thornton work the counts but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard early on.
That is until the 5th inning when Brett Gardner doubled home Gio Urshela for what was ultimately the only run of the game as the Yankees took a 1-0 lead.
That would be enough for Tanaka who baffled the Jays hitters throughout the contest and when he was done, he had a pitching line of 0R, 3H, and 4Ks with 0 walks on 94 pitches (66 strikes).
The game got dramatic in the bottom of the 9th, as with 0 outs and a runner at 1st, Vlad Gurreo JR and Aroldis Chapman got into a battle for the ages. Aroldis got ahead 0-2 on Vlad, before Gurreo fouled off several pitches (Including one that almost went out of the park for a HR ), worked the count to 3-2 and then fouled off more pitches before rolling into a double- play on the 13th pitch of the at bat!
The last batter of the game was star rookie Cavan Biggio, who Chapman struck out to secure the Yankees 1-0 victory.
MVP: Masahiro Tanaka
THOUGHTS:
It was Tanaka time today! That was sensational! He really came big for us when we needed him too today!
Great job by Gardy and Chapman ensuring Masa the win!!
I’ll take the series split! Onto the Doubleheader tomorrow against the O’s.
Let’s go Yankees!!
STATS TO KNOW:
This is the Yankees first win of the season when scoring 2 runs or fewer. They were 0-16 until today.
TARPLEY TO IL:
The Yankees placed Stephen Tarpley on the 10-day IL with right knee inflammation, and called up pitchers Brady Lail and Joe Mantiply , while also moving Giancarlo Stanton to the 60 day IL.
The Stanton move was to make room for Mantiply on the roster. Whenever Stanton is healthy, you will see him back on the roster.
UP NEXT:
The Yankees (77-41) will fly back home to the Bronx, for a Doubleheader against the Orioles (38-79) tomorrow beginning at 1:05PM.
James Paxton will go for the Yankees in game 1 against Gabriel Ynoa of the O’s.
Should be a fun one!
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