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BASEBALL

Todd Frazier Powers New York Past Toronto

While one Frazier Clint Frazier was sitting on the bench out of Wednesday lineup with tightness in his oblique the other Frazier Todd Frazier was making an impact for the New York offense.  

Todd Frazier has opted to be referred to as "The Toddfather" during the upcoming Players Weekend, but on Wednesday night, he was simply the man who homered and drove in three runs to help power the Yankees to an 11-5 victory over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

Gary Sanchez ("Kraken") and Didi Gregorius ("Sir Didi") also homered for the Yankees, who pounded out 17 hits, one shy of their season high. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

"I'm very satisfied," said Frazier, who went 3-for-4, scored four runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle. "Not only me, everybody came through today. Hitting is contagious, man, as that old saying goes. Everybody pretty much came through today in the offensive outburst. Let's keep on doing that. That would be pretty nice." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

With the victory, the Yankees (60-52) remained four games behind the Red Sox in the American League East while maintaining a 2 1/2-game lead for the first AL Wild Card. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

Making just his second appearance of the season, and his first with the Blue Jays, starter Nick Tepesch was charged with five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, surrendering all three homers. Frazier roped a two-run double off reliever Leonel Campos in the fifth and Jacoby Ellsbury ("Chief") followed with an RBI double. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

"They took advantage of some pitches I left over the plate and kind of up in the zone, and they did a good job of hitting them," Tepesch said. "I thought I was OK. Most of the time, solo home runs aren't going to hurt you, but I gave up three tonight. I didn't think it was horrible, but I didn't think it was great, either." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

Masahiro Tanaka started for New York but lasted just four-plus innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with five walks. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

"He didn't really have his split tonight," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We talk about how important that pitch is for him, and he just didn't have a good one." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

Ryan Goins ("Go Go") and Josh Donaldson ("Bringer of Rain") chipped away with run-scoring knocks in the sixth, but Ronald Torreyes added a two-run single in the eighth off Taylor Cole, who made his Major League debut. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

Frazier delivered in a key spot in the fifth after a walk to Aaron Judge("All Rise") and a Gregorius double placed runners on second and third with one out. The Blue Jays played the infield back, conceding a run, but Campos whiffed Sanchez. Frazier cashed the two-out hit, stroking a two-run double up the gap in right-center field. Frazier had two extra-base hits Wednesday after tallying just two in his first 18 games as a Yankee. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

"I don't think I've been struggling, to be honest," Frazier said. "The defense has been there, I've had some opportunities where I've driven some guys in. If you look at the stats, maybe everybody looks at the batting average and says, 'He's struggling.' But I've gotten guys over, I've gotten big walks in key situations. We can talk about little things. I've thought I've helped this team out a lot and hopefully I keep that going." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

The Blue Jays worked Tommy Kahnle for his first rough outing since rejoining the Yanks in the sixth. After Goins chased Chad Green with an RBI double, Kahnle threw a wild pitch and walked Raffy Lopez before getting Jose Bautista ("Joey Bats") to pop out. Donaldson ripped a run-scoring single to right-center, cutting New York's lead to 6-5 before Kahnle struck out All-Star Justin Smoak to end the inning. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

"We pulled in close, thought we had a chance to win it, but they just blew it open there," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

As for the Toronto offense, Jose Bautista hit a solo homer off Tanaka in the fifth. That marked his 35th career home run vs. the Yankees, which moved him into a tie with Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria for the most by any active player. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

he Nos. 6 through 9 hitters in New York's lineup -- Frazier, Ellsbury, Garrett Cooper and Torreyes -- combined to go 10-for-19 with five runs scored, three doubles, a homer and nine RBIs. Cooper became the first Yankees rookie first baseman to collect four hits in a game since Joe Collins in 1950. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/247470336/yanks-hit-3-hrs-then-pull-away-from-blue-jays/

New York improves to 60-52 on the season and is now four games back of their American League East rival Boston who is leading the division with a record of 65-49. Meanwhile, Toronto drops to 53-60 and is 11.5 games back of first place Boston. 

New York and Toronto will finish up their three game series tonight at the Rogers Centre. Right -hander Sonny Gray who has a record of 6-6 with a 3.41 earn run average will start the finale for New York. Gray took the loss in his Yankees debut on Aug 3 at Cleveland, allowing four runs (two earned ) and four hits over six innings. His final outing with the A's came at Toronto on July 25th, when Gray struck out nine but allowed four unearned runs. He will go up against Toronto right -hander Marco Estrada who has a record of 4-7 with an earn run average of 5.12 has lasted seven innings in each of his last two starts. Estrada will make his 24th start Thursday, The most on the Blue Jays. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-blue-jays/2017/08/10/491815#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491815

First pitch is set for 7:07pm. The game will be televised on Yes.