The Blue Jays came from behind to beat the New York Yankees 5-4 at the Rogers Centre on Monday night in the opener of their four-game series. Here’s what you need to know:
The Jays erupted for four runs in the sixth inning, with five of their first six hitters reaching base. It started with a Davis Schneider double that sent Yankees starter Carlos Rodón to the showers. Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes followed with singles, the latter scoring Schneider, then Ernie Clement’s infield single cashed Straw to tie the game.
After George Springer reached on catcher’s interference, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 115.7-m.p.h. rocket that was past Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm before he could get his glove down, scoring two runs and giving the Jays the lead for good.
Jeff Hoffman worked a scoreless ninth for his 19th save, leaving Aaron Judge in the on-deck circle.
Fastballs
Scherzer vs. Judge
In a game that had a playoff atmosphere, Max Scherzer and Judge had an epic battle in the fourth inning.Â
The future Hall of Famers squared off with a runner on first and one out in a scoreless game and Scherzer missed with the first pitch, but then got ahead 1-and-2 before Judge took ball two. With two strikes, Judge fouled off four pitches — cutter, fastball and two sliders — while taking a curveball down and in to run the count full.
Scherzer got Judge to look at a 94.5-m.p.h. fastball at the bottom of the zone for strike three on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.
The next pitch, a hanging slider to Chisholm, was blasted into the Yankees right-field bullpen for a two-run home run.
Fisher keeps it clean
Braydon Fisher kept his career ERA out of the bullpen at 0.00 with a hitless top of the seventh, maintaining what was a 5-3 Jays lead at the time. The rookie struck out the side around a walk to J.C. Escarra. He has yet to allow a run in 20 relief appearances.
Bichette out
Starting this huge series, Jays shortstop Bo Bichette wasn’t in the lineup for only the second time this season. Well, he was originally, leading off and playing shortstop, but abruptly cut short his round of batting practice and came off the field with manager John Schneider right behind. About an hour later, the Jays announced Bichette had been scratched with right knee discomfort. Leg injuries cost Bichette half the season last year, but that was a quadriceps not the knee ... George Springer got a knee to the throat trying to go first to third on Guerrero’s go-ahead single in the sixth. He didn’t come out for defence in the seventh ... One positive: Reliever Yimi GarcÃa’s rehab from a shoulder impingement is complete. He’ll be activated off the injured list Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mailbag
Hebsie99 found me on Bluesky @wilnerness to ask “at what point does Ernie Clement replace Andrés Giménez in the lineup? What else does he need to do in order to get a regular spot?”
Those are two different questions, my good Hebsie. Giménez isn’t losing his spot, no matter how poorly he hits, because the Jays’ defence-happy front office would never consider keeping that glove on the bench, even if Clement is nearly as good. What might surprise you, though, is that Giménez is actually outhitting Clement against right-handed pitching by almost 100 points of OPS (.669 to .582). Clement has built most of his numbers by being ridiculously good against left-handers, but he’s been well below average against righties. What he needs to do to earn a regular spot is hit right-handed pitching at least as well as he did last year, when he had a .723 OPS against that side.
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