New York Falls In Opener To Toronto
After falling to Boston on Sunday New York lost their second straight game on Tuesday night where they lost in the opening game of their hree game series to Toronto.
- Clint Frazier bounced back from what he called the most difficult game of his professional career by belting an early homer, but Masahiro Tanaka unraveled in a shaky fifth inning as the Yankees fell to the Blue Jays, 4-3, on Tuesday evening at Rogers Centre. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/clint-frazier-homers-masahiro-tanaka-fades
Aaron Hicks cracked an eighth-inning homer off Joe Biagini to close the deficit to a run, but the Bombers were unable to rally further in the first meeting of the season between the American League East rivals. It marked just the Yanks' sixth loss in 24 games against divisional opponents. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/clint-frazier-homers-masahiro-tanaka-fades
Meanwhile New York’s starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka could not hold the lead, as Randal Grichuk hit a solo homer and Freddy Galvis put Toronto on top with a two-run shot. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added a run-scoring single against Tanaka, who absorbed the loss after permitting four runs and six hits over six innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/clint-frazier-homers-masahiro-tanaka-fades
Despite the loss, New York still is in first place in the American League East as they drop to 38-21 on the season while Toronto meanwhile improves to 22-38 on the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees
Meanwhile Toronto bounced back after suffering six straight losses.
It only took one inning for the Blue Jays to start the climb out of the hole they found themselves in after a winless six-game trip at Tampa Bay and Colorado.
One inning was the difference in the 4-3 win for the home team at Rogers Centre, a four-run fifth frame against Masahiro Tanaka that started with Randal Grichuk's 10th home run of the season, was followed by a two-run shot from Freddy Galvis for his ninth long ball of the year, and finished after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in Eric Sogard with an RBI single.
“[Tanaka left] some pitches up in that inning, and then we took advantage of it,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “He was outstanding, like he always is. He always keeps the ball down, but it was good for us to come back against a good pitcher like that. That was a good win for us, and a good job by our hitters to get to him that inning.” Sogard's seventh double of the season put him in scoring position and was one of three hits he had in the matchup, two off Tanaka. The Yankees' right-hander had won his previous three starts against Toronto, allowing one run over 19 innings entering Tuesday. Over that span he struck out 31 of the 68 Blue Jays batters he faced.
“We stick to our plan, we see good pitches, we let him make some mistakes and we make him pay,” Galvis said. “When a pitcher like that, a really, really good pitcher makes mistakes, you have to make him pay because if not, they’re going to beat you the next pitch.”
While Galvis and Sogard impressed at the plate on Tuesday, it was a defensive gem in the top of the seventh inning that felt like the biggest game-changer to many in the home dugout.
With one out and DJ LeMahieu on second base, Gary Sanchez hit a ground ball to Galvis. Instead of going straight to first for one out, Toronto’s shortstop went to second, where Sogard was waiting to get the tag down on LeMahieu as he attempted to return, before quickly turning the double play and beating Sanchez to first with his throw.
“You just don’t teach that,” Montoyo said. “He’s got it, that’s Galvis. And from what I heard, he told Sogard about it -- ‘If this happens, I’m going to go to you’ -- and he did it. ... Even if he didn’t talk about it, that’s incredible you can think like that, and that makes Galvis special.
“I would have gone to first, but I’m not that good.”
Galvis weighed his options, anticipated having a chance at the play with a slow-running catcher at the plate, and relayed the idea to Sogard ahead of the batted ball that he was willing to risk it.
“You have to [take] risks if you want to win, [that’s] the way it is,” Galvis said. “Sometimes we have to risk something, and it’s the same way if we’re running the bases or just trying to hit the first pitch. We have to do it, we take the risk and we make the plays.”
The offence -- and defence -- backed Clayton Richard's third start back from the injured list -- out for the beginning of the season with a right knee stress reaction -- in which he finished 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
“It’s a lot better when we win,” Richard said. “It’s a lot more fun. We get to listen to music and have a good time together. But anytime you go out and leave – in a close game – the team in a position to win, it’s a better feeling.
“And to come through and have Freddy have the game that he had, Freddy and [Sogard], I don’t think I’ve seen a play like that. That’s two guys thinking ahead of the game and being on the same page. That’s pretty special. Then for him to come through with the homer to give us the lead, it’s a great team win.”
Ahead of Tuesday's start, the 35-year-old left-hander had allowed three runs on five hits in eight innings over his first two starts, continuing to rebuild stamina after his time sidelined. Richard threw 54 pitches in his first outing, 81 in his second, and 87 against the Yankees on Tuesday.
The win was Toronto's second in its past 12 games, the team being outscored 80-44 over that stretch. The Blue Jays avoided their first seven-game skid since April 2017.
New York and Toronto will continue their series on Wednesday night where James Paxton who is from Ladner, BC Canada.will take the mound for New York who will look to bounce back and even up the series.