New York Completes Sweep Of Toronto Before Their Trip To The United Kingdom
Before their trip to the United Kingdom to play yet another American League East foe in Boston starting Saturday New York had to take care of some business back in the United States and they did just that as they swept their American League East foe Toronto in The Bronx.
James Paxton was shaky against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing six runs in just 4 1/3 innings. But with the Yankees’ high-powered offense, it didn’t end up mattering. The Yanks came back from an early five-run deficit, and Gleyber Torres delivered a walk-off single in the ninth for an 8-7 victory at Yankee Stadium after Zack Britton had allowed the game to be tied in the top of the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
“Guys that are really gifted, guys that are really talented in whatever they do, usually the situation doesn’t affect them,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Gleyber, since he’s come up to the big leagues last year, he’s been in that situation a lot, and it seems like comes through a lot and relishes those opportunities. Just a really good at-bat by him, being able to fight that off the other way like he did.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
It was Torres’ third career walk-off hit and first of the season. Even at a young age, he’s already become a player to rely on in those situations. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
It’s not easy to come back like that, but we just have such a good lineup that, you know, a couple guys on, and there was no doubt in my mind Gleyber was going to come through right there,” DJ LeMahieu said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
It isn’t just Torres. The entire offense has been borderline unstoppable, homering in an MLB-record 29 straight games, which is now two games more than the previous record of 27 by the 2002 Rangers. Didi Gregorius and LeMahieu went deep in the finale. The Yankees got another streak going, too. They have now gone a full season’s worth of games without being shut out -- 162. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
As most of the Yankees’ offensive output has been all year, it was a true team effort. Every starter had a hit except for Aaron Hicks, and he still knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly and scored a run after reaching on a walk, one of two times he reached base. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
That offense gives the Yankees the confidence to face practically any deficit. Asked what the team’s mentality is in the dugout when down 5-0 early in the game, Boone said succinctly, “Our game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
It’s great to watch this offense,” Paxton said. “These guys are swinging the bats extremely well. We feel like we’re going to score a bunch of runs every day, no matter who’s out there facing us. We’re extremely confident right now. Those guys are playing great baseball, and I’m going to work to join them, help us win and do my part.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
The offense picked up Paxton, who did not make it out of the fifth inning. After the game, Boone did not seem concerned that Paxton was dealing with any lingering effects from the left knee injury that had sidelined him earlier this year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
“I really do think he’s going to take off,” Boone said. “As long as he remains healthy, he’s going to pitch well. … He can go out there and dominate any lineup when he’s pitching well. These [kind of outings] are going to happen. As far as my confidence in him, I really feel good about him going on a really good run for us at some point.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-walk-off-single-in-yanks-win
With the win, New York improved to 52-28 on the regular season and remains in first place in the American League East
Toronto meanwhile suffered yet another setback as they not only lost the series but were swept by New York.
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was nearly a one-man wrecking crew against the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. He homered twice and drove in four runs, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Jays lost, 8-7, with New York sweeping the three-game series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Gurriel gave Toronto a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a three-run homer off left-hander James Paxton. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
The Blue Jays added to their lead the following inning when Danny Jansen hit a two-run homer to make it a five-run game. Gurriel hit his second home run of the game in the fifth, a solo shot that gave Toronto a short-lived 6-5 lead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on May 24, Gurriel is 42-for-121 (.347) with 12 home runs and 23 RBIs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
“It’s just the work I put in during the offseason. It’s the reason I’m putting up good numbers,” Gurriel said through team interpreter Hector Lebron. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Said Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo: “ Gurriel has been fun to watch. … The second home run he hit, I didn’t think it was going out, but he is having a good year.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Gurriel was initially sent down in April because of a slump at the plate and his below-average defense at second. He is now a spectacular outfielder. He already has six outfield assists since he came back, and that’s among the league leaders. Gurriel is comfortable in left and has found his groove at the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Asked what was more important to him, making a good defensive play or hitting home runs, Gurriel said, “The whole thing satisfies me as long as it helps the team.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Cavan Biggio delivered a clutch game-tying RBI single in the ninth, but Nick Kingham couldn’t shut down the Yankees and send the game to extra innings, allowing a walk-off single to Gleyber Torres. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
The Blue Jays went 2-4 on the road trip and head home to face the Royals in a four-game series. But Montoyo saw some brights spots during the trip. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
“I know we were 2-4, but we were in every game against two of the best teams [Red Sox and Yankees] in baseball,” the skipper said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Different outing for Thornton
After strong outings against the Astros and Red Sox last week, right-hander Trent Thornton took a few steps back against the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
Thornton lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs. The weird thing is, Thornton was staked to a 5-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings. After that, Thornton had a tough time getting outs. Starting in the second, he allowed a solo homer to Didi Gregorius and a two-run single to Aaron Judge. Thornton threw 43 pitches that inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
By the fourth, Thornton was out of the game after allowing a tying home run to DJ LeMahieu. Thornton threw 88 pitches in the no-decision. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
“It was really tough. I threw a lot of pitches early. That set the tone,” Thornton said. “LeMahieu put together a good at-bat against me to start the game. I was just behind in the count. I didn’t execute my pitches the way I like to. I made some bad pitches in some untimely situations. … I don’t think I was very good today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/lourdes-gurriel-jr-hits-two-homers-vs-yankees
With the loss, Toronto drops to 29-52 on the regular season and remains fourth in the American League East.
New York has a couple days off before their next game for traveling as they open up a two game series with yet another American League East foe in Boston but this time instead of being at either Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park the two teams will be taking on one another in the United Kingdom with their first game being Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium.