New York Falls To Toronto In The Regular Season Finale
It's hard to believe that the regular season is now over as New York lost the season finale against Toronto Sunday. Although the season is not yet over for New York as they will face Minnesota in the wild-card game Tuesday.
With the Yankees tuning up for the playoffs and the Blue Jays turning their attention toward 2018, Ryan Goins knocked home the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning tapper up the first-base line as Toronto completed the regular season with a 2-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
Goins' soft groundout off reliever Domingo German allowed Rob Refsnyder to score Toronto's second run of the afternoon after New York's Matt Holliday had tied the game in the seventh inning with his 19th homer, a shot down the left-field line off right-hander Danny Barnes. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
The Yankees rested several of their regulars in preparation for Tuesday's American League Wild Card Game against the Twins, which will be played at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
"You have one shot at it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's not like there's a tomorrow, so it is a different feeling. The biggest thing is you want to keep things as normal as you can and help the players relax and let them go do their thing." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
Playing what was likely his final game in a Blue Jays uniform, Jose Bautista lifted a fourth-inning sacrifice fly in support of Toronto starter Brett Anderson, who worked five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits in a no-decision. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
It was a tough, long grind," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "The guys battled hard all year. It wasn't what we wanted obviously, but it's always good to finish on a good note, which was a win today. What that means, who knows? But now we'll all go home, rest up and see what the plans are, see what moves are made and come back strong next year." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery completed his rookie season with 5 1/3 innings of one-run, two-hit ball, finishing with a 3.88 ERA in 29 starts. Montgomery said that he was satisfied with how his first taste of the big leagues went and is looking forward to the Yankees' postseason run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
"You definitely think of the big leagues and you think, 'Oh, wow, it's going to be really hard,'" Montgomery said. "It's lived up to it. You've just got to settle in and trust yourself. It's about the best time to be a Yankee and be young right now." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
After giving up the lead in the seventh, Toronto responded in the eighth with the rare use of small ball. With a pair of runners on and nobody out, Darwin Barney hit a two-strike bunt down the first-base line, which put two men in scoring position. Goins then came through with a little dribbler in front of the plate that went just far enough to score Refsnyder from third base with the go-ahead run. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
Bautista's tenure with the Blue Jays likely came to an end on Sunday afternoon and he finished it on a positive note. With runners on the corners in the fourth inning, Bautista hit a sacrifice fly to center field for his 65th RBI of the season. Bautista, who singled in his first at-bat of the game, was then lifted from the game in favor of Michael Saunders. There's a mutual option on Bautista's contract for next season, but Toronto is expected to decline it and instead allow him to become a free agent. He finished the year hitting .203 with 23 homers, 84 walks, and a franchise-record 170 strikeouts. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
"I won't really look at the numbers too much -- they are what they are and I can't change them," Bautista said. "All I can do is get ready for next season and be ready to contribute for the team that I'm with at that time. Right now, I'm a Toronto Blue Jay and that hasn't changed. I've said it all along, this is where I want to be and finish my career. We'll see what happens in the future. It's out of my control now." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
"Not today. On the road, it's much different. It was much easier to handle today." -- Bautista, on whether there was any extra emotion involved playing in what might have been his final game with the Blue Jays "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
It took until the final day of the regular season, but the Blue Jays finally got out of last place in the AL East. With Baltimore losing, 6-0, to Tampa Bay, Toronto moved out of last place for the first time this season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
Gibbons won a challenge in the bottom of the fourth inning when Tyler Wade attempted to take second base following a pickoff attempt. Wade initially was called safe at second base, but the call was overturned. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
Girardi then won a challenge in the bottom of the fifth. Toronto appeared to turn a double play, but Goins' foot came off the base before he received the throw. Chase Headley was ruled safe after the call was overturned." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/257057814/blue-jays-beat-yanks-in-regular-season-finale/
New York will now turn their attention to the wild-card game Tuesday at Yankee Stadium against Minnesota.
Right-hander Irvin Santana will get the start for Minnesota. He has a record of 16-8 with a 3.28 earn run average. Santana, the anchor of Minnesota's staff, will make his ninth career postseason appearance and third start in the AL Wild Card Game. He finished the year strong with a 3.31 earn run average in six September starts. He will oppose New York right-hander Luis Severino who has a record of 14-6 with an earn run average of 2.98. Severino will be making his first appearance at any level in AL Wild Card Game, after going 9-2 with a 2.28 earn run average since the break. He faced the Twins on Sept. 20, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-yankees/2017/10/03/526475#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526475
First pitch is set for 8:00 pm. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/twins-vs-yankees/2017/10/03/526475#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526475