New York Loses Their Second Straight Game To Toronto
New York won the opening game in Toronto on Thursday but then lost two straight games including Saturday’s game.
Adam Ottavino pumped two fastballs for strikes past Vladimir Guerrero Jr.. Ahead in the count, he decided to stick with what was working. The reliever reached back for more heat, and when it yielded a softly-hit grounder with no fielders in its path, he immediately pinned his hands to his cap. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Guerrero’s two-run triple rattled into foul territory down the right-field line, allowing Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio to race home with the tying and deciding runs as the vaunted Yankees bullpen stumbled in the Blue Jays' 5-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Rogers Centre. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
"It happened really quick," Ottavino said. "By the time I looked up, I saw that the ball was over in that area. I looked over and saw [first-base umpire Manny Gonzalez] call it fair. I was kind of in a little bit of disbelief." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Guerrero’s big hit was set up by a walk and a single, one half-inning after the Yankees claimed the lead on DJ LeMahieu's sacrifice fly. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Ottavino worked the count to 2-2 on Bichette but couldn't put the rookie away. Bichette fouled off a couple of sliders and looked at a cutter outside to run the count full. Bichette fouled off another slider before Ottavino's ninth pitch of the showdown sailed outside for the free pass. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
"I think the mistake was the walk," Ottavino said. "A good battle there. I would have liked to do a little better job making him earn his way on base, Bichette. No excuse; got to get it done and I didn't today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Biggio cracked his bat on the first pitch for a hit to right field, preceding Guerrero's triple. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
"The walk to Bichette obviously hurts him, then the Biggio base hit," manager Aaron Boone said. "You get Guerrero down there and it's just one of those defensive [swings] where the ball finds a hole. That was the difference in the game, but I thought overall he threw the ball fine." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Gary Sanchez homered in his return from the injured list and red-hot Gio Urshela rounded the bases for his sixth homer in five games, though it was not enough to prevent the Yanks from taking their first loss while utilizing an opener this year. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
"I felt good at the plate today," Sanchez said through a translator. "I was able to put a good swing on the ball. It felt good." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
New York fell to 11-1 in “opener” games, having tabbed Chad Green to work a scoreless first inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
After Sanchez's 25th homer of the year -- and first since the All-Star break -- landed in the left-field seats, Teoscar Hernández greeted Chance Adams with a three-run homer in the fourth, with two of those runs charged to Stephen Tarpley.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Urshela's 17th blast of the season cleared the wall in the sixth off Tim Mayza, tying the game, and New York grabbed the lead in the seventh as Mike Ford walked, chugged to third on a Mike Tauchman double and scored as LeMahieu lifted a Jason Adam pitch to deep right. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
"With the different looks they were able to run out there today, we were still able to push four across on a day we didn’t get a ton of hits," Boone said. "Credit to them, they mixed and matched and held us down today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-homers-again-in-yankees-loss
Meanwhile Toronto won their second straight in the four game series.
The exciting arrival of Bo Bichette to the big leagues brought a welcome burst of optimism to a Blue Jays organization focused on the future. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
But while the history-making, record-breaking outburst of offence from the team’s 21-year-old shortstop has been a distraction from some of the woes the team has endured throughout the season, it’s also taken away from some of the impressive performances the rest of the lineup has seen of late. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first career triple on Saturday, a two-run go-ahead drive in the seventh inning, the 20-year-old slugger became easily recognizable as the hero in the 5-4 victory for the home team at Rogers Centre. But what he’s done over his past 20 contests has also been nothing short of impressive. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
“Before Bo showed up, Vlad was already hot, and then Bo was so hot that people forgot about Vlad,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “But it was a big hit by Vlad today. These last two days have been awesome for this team, for the young kids, playing the best team in baseball and fighting back.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
If there’s one person who did not forget about Guerrero, it has been the guy using his teammate’s success to help propel his own. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
“We feed off each other, because obviously we both want the best for each other,” Bichette said, after extending his on-base streak to 13 games, the longest in franchise history to start a career. “But at the same time, we’re both pretty competitive and don’t really want to be second fiddle. So when one of us is playing well, it pushes the other. It brings a good competitive environment.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Added Guerrero: “I know him and he knows me, we’re like brothers. Right now, we play hard every day, help the team win. That’s why we’re coming [to the ballpark] earlier -- we work hard, and we’re helping the team win.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Over his past 20 games, Guerrero has hit .388 (31-for-80) with five home runs, seven doubles, his first three-bagger, eight walks and 25 RBIs. The young phenom also leads all rookies in the Majors this season with 11 games with three hits or more, and he has hit the ball harder than anyone in baseball. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Most balls hit 115-plus mph, 2019:
1) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR): 7
2. Aaron Judge (NYY): 4
3-T) Gary Sánchez (NYY): 3
3-T) C.J. Cron (MIN): 3
3-T) Nelson Cruz (MIN): 3
3-T) Pete Alonso (NYM): 3
“according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
“When I came up here [to the Majors] I was trying to be perfect. I didn’t want to mess things up,” Guerrero said. “I wanted to do it too perfect, so basically I was putting all the pressure on myself. Now I’m relaxed, I’m just being myself, and that’s why I’m getting better at-bats and better production.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Among American League freshmen, Toronto’s third baseman entered Saturday’s game tied for first with 88 hits, alone at second with 35 walks and 20 doubles, tied for second with 49 RBIs and ranked sixth with 13 homers. As long as he keeps doing what he’s doing, his manager believes he should be in the conversation for the AL Rookie of the Year Award when the time comes. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
“This past road trip [he was hitting] .370 or something, really good, and nobody noticed because Bichette was doing what he was doing,” Montoyo said. “But [he has] a month-and-a-half, he could do it. He could get hot and finish with 70 [or] 80 RBIs.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Before Guerrero’s game-winning triple, Teoscar Hernández got the Blue Jays on the board with his 18th home run of the season and third in his past two games, a three-run shot to left field. Ahead of Saturday’s contest against the Yankees, the 26-year-old centre fielder was slashing .301/.393/.712 over his past 21 games, with nine home runs, three doubles, 16 RBIs and a wRC+ of 183 over that span. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
The signs that I’ve seen from Teoscar is he’s not chasing as much,” Montoyo said. “So now he’s getting better pitches to hit, and he’s got a whole lot of power and it’s showing. That’s the key, not chasing pitches, and his approach is a lot better.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Added Hernandez: “It is that. The big difference now is that my pitch recognition is pretty good. I’ve been not swinging at bad pitches and the ones that stay in the middle, I’m doing damage now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
The Blue Jays have homered in 15 straight games, tied for the third-longest streak in franchise history and the longest since a 19-game stretch in 2010. Toronto has hit 39 long balls over those 15 contests, with 13 players homering since the streak began. Hernandez leads the Blue Jays with six homers in that time. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
“It is different [against] the Yankees,” Hernandez said. “The Yankees are one of the best in the game, it’s always been like that, and this year they’re far away from the other teams. Obviously, when you have a game like that against the Yankees, it’s pretty good.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Giles still unavailable
When the Blue Jays found themselves in a save situation on Saturday, closer Ken Giles was once again nowhere to be seen in the bullpen. The 28-year-old has battled issues with right elbow inflammation throughout the season, and he had a cortisone shot on July 29 that helped in the short term, but questions remain for what the next steps might be. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
“His arm is not bouncing back,” Montoyo said. “If he’s not able to bounce back and stuff, then he might have to go on the [injured list]. We’re talking about it -- if it’s a couple more days, if it can wait, that was the conversation we were just having.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
Giles has posted a 1.95 ERA over 37 appearances and 37 innings with 61 strikeouts for the Blue Jays this season, and he has already had one stint on the 10-day IL. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-first-mlb-3b-blue-jays-win
New York will look to yet again bounce back in the finale and look to earn a split in the series while Toronto will aim to win the series on Sunday.