New York Edges Toronto In The Opener In The Bronx
After dropping the finale on Sunday to Houston New York got back in the win column during the opening game of their three game series in the Bronx against Toronto who like New York is a member of the American League East.
Aaron Hicks parked a three-run homer into the right-field seats and Giancarlo Stanton cleared the loading dock in left-center field for his first blast of the season as the Yankees outlasted the Blue Jays, 10-8, on Monday evening at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
It's kind of what we do, we hit home runs here," Hicks said. "That's kind of how we score runs. We're in a great spot right now. We're scoring runs. We're doing it as a team, which is huge. Top to bottom is doing damage and that's what we need." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
By slugging at least one home run in 27 consecutive contests, the Yankees have equaled the 2002 Texas Rangers for the longest such streak. They'll have a chance to set the new mark on Tuesday, when left-hander Clayton Richard attempts to quiet the Bombers' sizzling bats. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
"That's kind of an obscure one, but now that it's happened with our group, it doesn't surprise me," manager Aaron Boone said. "We have a lot of guys capable of hitting the ball out of the ballpark. I think they help strengthen each other because collectively they're able to wear down pitchers. That eventually leads to more and more mistakes at different points in the night." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
Hicks' fifth-inning drive off Aaron Sanchez gave the Yankees a lead that they would not relinquish. New York secured its ninth win in 10 games due in large part to a gritty effort from CC Sabathia, who settled in after allowing two runs in a 29-pitch first inning to log his 251st career victory. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
"You just want to get the team back in the dugout as soon as possible, because these guys are capable of putting up runs," Sabathia said. "It really doesn't matter how many outs we have; one out, two outs, we can start a rally and score runs. You always have that in mind when you are out there. You just want to get them back in the dugout so they can score some runs." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
Sabathia scattered six hits over six innings of two-run ball, throwing 104 pitches – his highest total since Sept. 29, 2016, against the Red Sox. As if he needed any more reminders of his advancing years, the lefty can now claim to have recorded strikeouts against both Vladimir Guerrero (7-for-37, 1 HR, 10 K) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2-for-3, 1 K). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
"Both powerful hitters," Sabathia said. "I felt like Vlad Jr.'s got a little bit better eye, can cover the ball a little more. When I'm facing Cavan Biggio and Vlad Jr., it's time for me to go home." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
DJ LeMahieu notched his first four-hit game as a Yankee, scoring a pair of runs and extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Stanton's impressive blast highlighted a seven-run frame that matched a May 19 outburst against the Rays as the Yanks' biggest inning of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
Gio Urshela and Brett Gardner drove in runs before Luke Voit greeted Derek Law with a two-run double that rattled down the left-field line. As Stanton watched the flight of his deep drive off Law, the slugger believed he had stamped the exclamation point on a convincing victory, building a 10-2 lead at the time. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
Not so, as struggling reliever Jonathan Holder failed to retire any of the five men he faced in the eighth inning, tagged by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. for a homer and by Freddy Galvis for a grand slam that drew the Jays within three runs. Holder was sent down after the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
Rowdy Tellez lifted a sacrifice fly off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth, but third baseman Urshela made a terrific play by throwing across his body to retire Galvis for the final out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
"Normally in a game like that, that's the final dagger," Stanton said of his homer. "But it took every run tonight." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-tie-for-longest-home-run-streak
With the win, New York improves to 50-28 and maintains their lead in the American League East.
Toronto meanwhile was on the other end of the spectrum in the opening game of their three game series.
It looked like Aaron Sanchez might be on his way to his first victory since April 27, but his winless drought was extended to 11 starts as the Yankees pounded the Blue Jays, 10-8, at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
Sanchez joined Ricky Romero (0-13 in 2012), Joe Biagini (0-10 in 2017-18) and Juan Guzman (0-9 in 1995) as the only Blue Jays starters to lose nine straight decisions in the past 38 seasons. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
Early in the game, Sanchez was dealing. He was staked to a 2-0 lead before taking the mound, but things started to unravel for the right-hander in the fifth inning, when he allowed a three-run homer to Aaron Hicks. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
"It is what it is," Sanchez said. "I didn't think it was a bad pitch. It flatten out a little bit. He put a good swing on it and they went ahead." “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
The following inning, Sanchez recorded one out and allowed four hits before leaving the game. Derek Law fared no better, allowing a two-run double by Luke Voit and a monster three-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton to make it a 10-2 lead for the Yankees. Sanchez was charged with seven runs allowed in 5 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
"[Sanchez] pitched better than the numbers showed," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "He had his good stuff. He was throwing his breaking pitches for strikes. ... He had tough luck with the infield hit there, but that was his best outing in a while. He was really good today."“according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
Sanchez believed he made progress in the outing. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
"I was keeping the ball down in the zone, keeping the ball on the ground [for the most part]. It was a positive," Sanchez said. "I really didn't get hit hard until later in the game. I'm making progress. I'm staying with the process. I understand what I'm getting out of it and moving on." “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
But the Blue Jays made it a close game against right-hander Jonathan Holder in the eighth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. led the inning off by hitting a home run. Cavan Biggio, Randal Grichuck and Rowdy Tellez singled to load the bases for Freddy Galvis, who hit a grand slam to make it a three-run game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
Two outs later, the Blue Jays had the potential tying run at the plate, but Adam Ottavino struck out Gurriel to end the threat. Order was restored for New York -- for now. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
But the Blue Jays didn't make it easy for the Yankees in the ninth. Toronto added an unearned run off closer Aroldis Chapman. With the Blue Jays down to their final out, Galvis didn't go quietly. It took Chapman nine pitches and a slick play by third baseman Gio Urshela to finally get Galvis out and end the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
"We [didn't] quit," Montoyo said. "We made them lose their setup man, their closer. Outstanding. I love this team. We don't quit." “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/aaron-sanchez-at-yankee-stadium
With the loss Toronto drops to 29-50 on the season and still is in fourth place in the division. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
New York and Toronto are supposed to continue their series on Tuesday night but mother nature might be the deciding factor as to if they get game two of their three game series in or not.