New York's Bullpen Stumbles In The Finale Against Toronto
One bad pitch can win or lose a game on the diamond and unfortunately for New York in the series finale in Canada right -hander David Robertson served up a grand slam to Toronto's Justin Smoak at the Rogers Centre.
Justin Smoak is out to prove that he is no one-year wonder. Sunday afternoon against the Yankees was a pretty good start. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
Smoak capped a two-homer day with the second grand slam of his career as the Blue Jays rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to steal a victory away from the Yankees with a dramatic 7-4 win at Rogers Centre. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
Toronto opened the eighth trailing by one and facing the unenviable task of trying to mount a comeback against top setup man David Robertson. Russell Martin got things started with a single and later advanced to third on a double by Aledmys Diaz. Two batters later, Smoak stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and went to work. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
Smoak quickly got ahead, 2-0, and eventually worked the count full before he unloaded on a 93-mph fastball and sent it over the wall in center field. According to Statcast™, Smoak's second home run of the game was projected to travel 412 feet and left his bat at 106 mph. It was the seventh multi-homer game of Smoak's career. Smoak finished the day 3-for-4 with six RBIs. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
Neither starting pitcher factored into the decision. Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman showed no lingering effects from a right shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of Spring Training and was charged with the four runs on three hits and three walks in five innings. Yankees right-hander Sonny Gray struck out eight and allowed just one run but had to be pulled with nobody out in the fifth because of a high pitch count."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
The bottom half of New York's lineup caused a lot of problems for the Blue Jays during this four-game series and Sunday was no different. With two runs already in, Drury gave the Yankees some breathing room with a two-run shot to left-center field in the third. According to Statcast™, Drury's first in a Yankees uniform was estimated to travel 387 feet and left his bat at 101.4 mph. In this series, New York's final four batters in the order were responsible for five extra-base hits and nine RBIs. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
Escaping the jam: Gray found himself in first-inning trouble, walking leadoff hitter Devon Travis and allowing a Josh Donaldson single. That put runners on the corners with nobody out and gave the Blue Jays a prime opportunity to open scoring for the second consecutive day. Gray wasn't fazed, striking out the next three batters to escape. Justin Smoak and Yangervis Solarte struck out on five pitches while Curtis Granderson fanned on four. That started an afternoon-long trend of the Blue Jays not being able to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The last time a Blue Jays player had six RBIs against the Yankees was catcher Ernie Whitt on Sept. 12, 1987. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
WHAT'S NEXT
Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton will put on the pinstripes for his first Yankees home opener on Monday as the Yanks host the Rays at 1:05 p.m. ET. Left-hander Jordan Montgomery gets the starting nod for the 116th home opener in franchise history. Tampa Bay has not announced its starting pitcher, as the Rays are experimenting with a regular "bullpen day." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
Blue Jays: Left-hander Jaime Garcia will make his Blue Jays debut when Toronto opens a three-game series against the White Sox on Monday at 7:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre. Garcia has spent almost his entire nine-year career in the National League, and the White Sox are one of only four teams he has never faced. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/justin-smoaks-slam-lifts-blue-jays/c-270411972
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