New York Tops Toronto In The Finale In The Bronx

After falling short in the second game of the three game series New York bounced back in the finale against Toronto.

- Gio Urshela's emergence has provided some of the Yankees' most delightful surprises, and the quick-thinking infielder continued his dream season with a pivotal hook slide on Sunday afternoon that provided the go-ahead run in yet another series victory. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Dashing toward home plate on a fifth-inning wild pitch, Urshela deftly snuck his left foot past a lunging tag attempt from catcher Danny Jansen to give New York a lead it would not relinquish. Urshela also roped a two-run single and Mike Tauchman homered as the Yankees defeated the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, 4-2, improving to 12-0-1 in their last 13 home series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"We wouldn’t be in first place right now if we didn’t have Gio," Aaron Judge said. "The changes he made this offseason, the adjustments he made, it’s finally showing and paying off. There's no other place I’d have him be. He’s something special defensively and offensively; just get him up there with guys on base, he gets the job done." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Largely overlooked in spring camp, Urshela's stock surged after taking over as the starting third baseman in April. Having earned a reputation as a slick defender during his previous big league stops, Urshela modified his batting stance and has improved his pitch selection, yielding terrific results. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"Every time I go out there, it's very fun playing for this team," Urshela said. "Since Spring Training when I got here, it's really fun. It's really great being here." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Urshela's stance changes took root last year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he completed the season after being acquired from Toronto in an unheralded August trade. At the urging of hitting coach Phil Plantier, Urshela focused on balancing his weight in his legs, which has helped him make louder contact while spraying the ball from gap to gap. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"When he was coming up through the Minor Leagues, he was always a guy that made good contact, which can be a really good sign," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Sometimes that takes a while to blossom. I’m sure there’s a lot of people that followed his Minor League career that aren’t surprised that he’s starting to swing the bat now at the Major League level." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Facing Toronto ace Marcus Stroman in the second inning, Urshela worked the count to 2-1, then smacked a 94.2 mph fastball through the left side of the infield. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

That chased home Luke Voit and Gleyber Torres with the first runs of the afternoon. It was the brand of pressurized opportunity in which Urshela has flourished this season; with runners in scoring position, the 27-year-old has batted .362 (21-for-58) while collecting 30 RBIs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"It means I'm doing good stuff for the team," Urshela said. "I'm always trying to do it, every day." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Toronto evened the score in the fifth inning as Randal Grichuk and Eric Sogard slugged solo homers off Masahiro Tanaka, but Urshela's heady footwork put New York back on top in the home half of the frame. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Working with two outs and runners at second and third, Stroman uncorked a 94 mph, 1-1 fastball to Judge that sailed well outside, then hit the backstop and caromed unexpectedly to Jansen. As the catcher scrambled, Urshela aimed his left foot toward the front of home plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"When I was running toward the plate, I was like, 'I've got to do something to make it safe,'" Urshela said. "I was trying to sneak around the glove. The ball bounced quickly to the glove. I tried to make a good slide." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Though Urshela was initially called out by umpire Ryan Blakney, the Yankees had the call overturned by review. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said that Jansen could have applied a better tag. Jansen agreed, saying that he should have thrown his body in front of the plate, but Stroman said he was impressed with Urshela's athleticism. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"Just a crazy good slide by Gio Urshela," Stroman said. "It was just one of those slides where he kind of avoided him and just slid his left leg in there. It was just one of those plays that in the moment it’s hard, but Jano did a great job, just couldn’t get the tag down." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Tanaka scattered four hits, walking none and striking out five to pick up the victory, outdueling Stroman, a Medford, N.Y. product who has been mentioned as a possible Yankees trade target. If so, the audition went fine; Stroman permitted seven hits and two walks over six innings, striking out seven. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

Tauchman, who stole an extra-base hit from Cavan Biggio with a diving catch to open the sixth inning, padded the Yankees’ advantage in the seventh with a solo homer off Derek Law. Aroldis Chapman worked a perfect ninth inning for his 25th save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

"That group in there is capable of being the best team in baseball; capable of being the best team in the world," Boone said. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-slide-2-rbis-lift-yankees

With the win, New York improves to 59-32 on the regular season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

Meanwhile Toronto was on the other end of the spectrum in the finale.

As the trade rumours continue to flourish, with a spotlight sitting squarely on Marcus Stroman -- and wherever he may wind up -- the 28-year-old right-hander returned to the mound on Sunday to help fuel the fires of speculation. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news

After leaving his most recent start on June 29 after four innings with a left shoulder pectoral cramp that prevented Stroman from pitching in his first All-Star Game, the righty turned in six innings of three-run ball in an eventual 4-2 loss to the American League East Division leading Yankees at Yankee Stadium, allowing seven hits, two walks and fanning seven. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news

“I thought I threw the ball really well,” Stroman said. “I haven’t thrown the ball in two weeks so I thought I was going to be a little wild, but I felt really good to be honest with you. Body felt good, arm felt really good, felt like I was in the zone for the most part and I thought I did a good job of navigating this lineup. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“This lineup, one through nine, is incredible. You can’t really give in at any point in the game, and I limited them to keeping the ball on the ground and not really putting many balls in the air.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

While Stroman’s starts have been must-watch material for Blue Jays fans all season long, as the club’s most consistent member of the rotation and the owner of a 3.25 ERA over 110 2/3 innings, all eyes across baseball have begun tuning in to see what the hurler will do ahead of the Trade Deadline and where it might take him. On Sunday, even his own team felt he took things up a notch.

“He looked really good,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “And he kept us in the game like he always does. He was throwing actually 95, it’s the hardest he’s thrown this year. He’s been around 92, 93 but today he reached 95 so that was good to see. He’s healthy. He did a good job again.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

Added catcher Danny Jansen: “His arm was electric today.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

Stroman left a strong impression on his opponents in the Blue Jays’ loss. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“There’s a lot of things,” Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge said of Stroman. “He’s got good movement on his fastball. He can throw any pitch at any time. He has a good little cutter he’s starting to throw -- slider, curveball and he’ll throw any pitch at any time and he works both sides of the plate. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“When you’ve got a guy with that kind of movement and put it inside corner, outside corner it makes it tough and kind of keeps you off balance.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

The native of Long Island, N.Y. is one of the organization’s longest-tenured players and a homegrown product drafted out of Duke University in the first round in 2012. Stroman is also under club control for the remainder of this season and next -- not seeing free agency until 2021 -- and would require a significant return for Toronto. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“Marcus has put himself in an incredible position, throughout his career, not just over the last four months,” Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said ahead of the All-Star break. “He has been durable, he has performed at an exceptionally high rate, he’s been one of the better pitchers in baseball over the last three years and because of that, he’s in a great position for his future.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

Ahead of Sunday’s start, Toronto’s All-Star led all American League pitchers with a ground-ball percentage of 57.8 percent, ranked eighth in the circuit among ERA leaders, and he was the owner of 11 of the team’s 27 quality starts, adding to that number in the series finale against the Bronx Bombers. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“I truly believe that I always get stronger as the year goes on,” Stroman said. “I’ve always been a second-half pitcher. I think I’m going to have a pretty special second half. My body feels great, my arm feels great. … I’m going to get stronger as the year goes on.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

Because of his exceptional ability to induce ground balls, it was suggested to Stroman after Sunday’s game that he might be a good fit to don the pinstripes and take half his turns at Yankee Stadium, to which the hurler expressed confidence in his abilities no matter where he toes the rubber. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“I feel like I’m a good fit in this era,” Stroman said. “As far as launch angle and guys putting the ball in the air, my sinker plays incredibly well to keeping the ball on the ground and limiting homers. And I’m not just a sinker baller. I have a great cutter, my four-seam’s coming back, I have a great slider. I have plenty of weapons.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

While the thought continues to linger that every start in a Blue Jays uniform might be the last for the 5-foot-7, 180-pound righty, Stroman reiterated the idea that he is focused on the here and now. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

“It’s hard to think about the future like that,” Stroman said. “I truly think if I start to think about it like that, it’s going to throw me off my game and it’s going to throw me out of the loop, mentally, physically, so I’m doing my best to really focus on the moment and [I’m] doing everything I can to be at my best to face Detroit on Friday.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

Added Montoyo: “All I know is that he’s healthy and he did a good job. Hopefully he’s pitching for us next time. We’re going to have a chance to win every time he takes the mound.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

Toronto couldn’t break out the bats in support of Stroman, despite homers from Randal Grichuk and Eric Sogard off Masahiro Tanaka in the fifth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/marcus-stroman-delivers-solid-outing-vs-yankees

With the loss, Toronto falls to 35-59 on the regular season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings