J.A. Happ Helps New York Salvage Game Against Former Team
After losing the first two games as well as the series it was the former Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ who helped New York not only salvage a game out of the series but helped New York avoid getting swept by an American League East foe.
Supporting a stellar seven-inning outing from J.A. Happ that snapped the Yanks' three-game losing streak, LeMahieu delivered a run scoring double in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth. The knocks off Jackson improved LeMahieu's average to a Major League-best .491 (26-for-53) with runners in scoring position. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu's cool confidence in pressurized situations has earned him a nickname within the Yankees' clubhouse walls, as revealed after Thursday's game: "The Machine," bestowed upon LeMahieu by catcher Gary Sánchez. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"Yeah, that was started by Gary," LeMahieu said, with a smile. "That's his thing. It makes me laugh." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
That guy rakes," said Aaron Hicks, who cracked a three-run homer as part of a four-run second inning against Toronto starter Edwin Jackson. "He's a true hitter. He's a guy that hits in any location, pretty much all over the field. He's a great defender. He's been huge for us." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu delivered a run scoring double in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth. The knocks off Jackson improved LeMahieu's average to a Major League-best .491 (26-for-53) with runners in scoring position.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu's cool confidence in pressurized situations has earned him a nickname within the Yankees' clubhouse walls, as revealed after Thursday's game: "The Machine," bestowed upon LeMahieu by catcher Gary Sánchez. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"Yeah, that was started by Gary," LeMahieu said, with a smile. "That's his thing. It makes me laugh. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahie u-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu, who added a sixth-I”all. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"For me, it's about taking the same approach as I do during all my at-bats," LeMahieu said. "I don't usually hit for a ton of power, so I need to come through in situations to impact the game. It's not always like that. I'm just on a good roll." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
With Gregorius returning to the active roster on Friday -- infielder Thairo Estrada was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Thursday's game in a corresponding move -- Boone has outlined a rough plan to have Gregorius play shortstop two of three days, with Gleyber Torres shifting from second base to shortstop on the other day. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
That, plus any off-days for Torres, would give LeMahieu playing time at second base. He's also expected to play twice a week as Gio Urshela's understudy at third base, and could see time spelling Luke Voit at first base. Yet the way he is swinging the bat, no one would fault Boone for wanting to get LeMahieu to the plate as often as possible. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"He'll get his day here and there, but he's not coming out anytime soon," Boone said. "He'll get his day a week, which I think will be a good thing over the long haul and keeping him fresh, but DJ will be in there." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
LeMahieu said that no one has discussed what the next two weeks will look like for him. His plan, as it usually is, will be to come to the ballpark and look at the lineup card, then grab a glove. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
“I'm prepared to play multiple spots,” LeMahieu said. “We'll definitely be excited to have Didi back, that's for sure.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
As the Yankees pelted Jackson for six runs (two earned) and six hits in 3 1/3 innings, Urshela hit a solo homer to back Happ, who limited his twice-former club to Eric Sogard's sixth-inning homer in a 102-pitch effort. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"I had a lot of emotion tonight, so I was trying to be as methodical as I could, just move onto the next pitch," Happ said. "I've been trying to do that lately. Gary did a really nice job back there tonight setting up with his targets and calling a really good game.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
Happ said that he can't help but marvel at LeMahieu, the envisioned super-sub who just might be too good to leave on the bench.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
"He's been incredible," Happ said. "Never tries to do too much, takes what he's given and has been coming up with big hit after big hit. He's a guy we're definitely excited when he comes up." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dj-lemahieu-leads-yanks-to-win-over-blue-jays
While New York snapped their three game losing streak Toronto meanwhile suffered a setback.
Edwin Jackson hasn’t been through a rough patch like the one that has marred the beginning of his tenure with the Blue Jays in what he thinks are probably six or seven years. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
On Thursday, Toronto had a chance at its first series sweep since the end of April, and against the American League East leaders, no less. But for the fifth time this season, the 17-year big league veteran exited the game without leaving his team in a position to win, and the Blue Jays eventually fell, 6-2, to the Yankees at Rogers Centre. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
The only thing you can do is continue to pitch,” Jackson said. “I’ve had numerous opportunities to continue to be able to take the ball and go out and get the job done, and flat out, I just haven’t been able to get it done. I’ve never been one to make excuses. I’ve always been one to man up and tell it how it is, and that’s how it is -- right now, I’m not getting the job done.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
Toronto’s offence couldn’t muster much against former Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ -- a solo homer from Eric Sogard in the sixth inning the exception -- and the contrast between the starters was vast. Jackson recorded 10 outs, allowing six runs (two earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 11.90. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
“This game we love can be harsh,” the 35-year-old right-hander said on Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s a game of failure and it’s hard not to get emotionally attached to it, but I feel like if you get too emotionally attached, it will eat you alive. I’ve seen it happen, and I’m still here by practicing what I preach. I’ve dealt with it. I’ve dealt with a lot of stuff in this game that would probably make a lot of other people quit.””according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
But Jackson hasn’t quit. Since the time he made his Major League debut on his 20th birthday, the righty has played parts of 17 seasons in the Majors, wearing the uniforms of a record-setting 14 different organizations. Over that time, he’s been through countless ups and downs and is confident that he has the mentality to get him through anything on the field.”according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
“I’ve had enough bad days in this game to learn from it, and at the end of the day you have to believe,” Jackson said. “If you don’t believe that things will change, they won’t. On your worst day, if you don’t believe that things will get better, they won’t. You have to keep believing and telling yourself, and it’s hard to do. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
“Don’t get me wrong, that is very hard to do. It’s hard to keep believing when you keep going out and having results that don’t relate to how you think and how you feel, but only the strong survive. I know it’s so cliché, but it’s true. The strength starts mentally, because we’re all in physical shape to be able to go do what we have to do, but we have to be so much stronger mentally in this game to continue to survive.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
In his first four starts for the Blue Jays, the veteran hurler allowed 26 runs (24 earned) on 30 hits over 16 1/3 innings. Before Thursday’s outing against the Yankees, the last time Jackson had been on a big league mound was against the Rockies on Friday, when he gave up a career-high-tying 10 runs over 2 1/3 frames. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
“Even in the worst outings you have, there’s something positive you can take from it,” he said. “Every outing is a learning experience, regardless of how old you are. If you have a negative outing, you have to take the positives from it, even if it’s just a tiny bit of information that’s the positive, and the rest of it, you just let it go.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
“It’s tough for him, obviously it’s probably one of his rougher stretches he’s gone through,” Sogard said. “But he’s very strong mentally, he has been around the game for a long time, so he’ll find a way to be able to get the job done. I know some of his pitches aren’t moving the way he wants them to, [but] he’s one of the hardest-working guys I know and [will] continue to work at it.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
With an off-day for the Blue Jays coming on Monday, manager Charlie Montoyo suggested that the team might have room to shuffle the rotation, but noted that more discussions would be had among Toronto’s brass before any changes would be made. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
“Things will come around,” Jackson said. “The most frustrating part is when you’re so close to getting over the hump and you can’t get over it. The story’s been too repetitive. I’ve had numerous, numerous opportunities to come around and get the job done, and I’m not finding a way to make pitches in big situations when I have the chance.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/edwin-jackson-struggles-in-start-vs-yankees
With the win, New York improves to 39-22 maintains their lead in the American League East while Toronto meanwhile drops to 23-39 on the season and is still is third in the division.