New York Drops Finale In Toronto As Dellin Betances And Jordan Montgomery Return

The bad news is New York not only lost the finale but the series to Toronto in Canada as well.

The good news is Dellin Betances and Jordan Montgomery are back.

Ending an arduous road trip on a losing note wasn’t what the Yankees were looking for on Sunday, but they came away with something that might be better than a win. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

In a 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, four-time All-Star Dellin Betances made his 2019 debut in convincing fashion, striking out both batters he faced on just eight pitches.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

Betances was back on a Major League mound in the fourth inning for the first time since last October, after working back from a right shoulder impingement and right lat strain. He made just three rehab appearances before Sunday, but the Yankees believed he was ready to return to big league action.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

They were right. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

Betances sat down Reese McGuire and Brandon Drury with ease, mixing knuckle curves in with a fastball that averaged 94.4 mph. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

Fastball velocity has been a hot topic for Betances, since the lanky right-hander is accustomed to pitching in the upper-90s. He sat in the 92-94 range during his rehab outings and has acknowledged that he will need some time to build up his arm strength.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

He may also need a quick re-introduction to some of baseball’s fundamental rules. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

After freezing Drury on a knuckle curve at the bottom of the zone, Betances gleefully skipped off the mound and headed toward the dugout. There was just one problem -- that was only the second out of the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

He quickly realized his mistake and turned around smiling, while signaling the number “two” with his fingers to correct his mistake. As it turned out, Yankees manager Aaron Boone came out to get him after that second out anyway. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

The Yankees returned another pitcher to action on Sunday, but with less success. Jordan Montgomery, coming back from Tommy John surgery that kept him out of the Majors for almost a year and a half, allowed three runs on four hits in two innings.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

Three of the hits went for extra bases, including a solo shot by Randal Grichuk, one of his pair of homers on the day. The Blue Jays posted a 96 mph average exit velocity on the eight balls they put in play against Montgomery.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

On the bright side, Montgomery struck out two batters, and he also maintained a low-90s fastball velocity, which is his norm.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/dellin-betances-jordan-montgomery-return-for-yankees

Meanwhile Toronto was on the other end of the spectrum as they not only won the finale but the series as well.

Randal Grichuk’s hot stretch at the plate kept rolling in Sunday’s 6-4 win at Rogers Centre over the Yankees, a team he’ll be looking forward to facing one last time next weekend in New York. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-homers-twice-in-win-over-yankees

Grichuk launched two home runs, his 27th and 28th of the season, to extend his career high and put himself within striking distance of 30 with a dozen games remaining in the season. He loves Yankees pitching, too, with eight home runs against them in just 16 games. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-homers-twice-in-win-over-yankees

Sunday’s performance extended Grichuk’s hitting streak to eight games, and he hasn’t been skipping along on bloop singles, either. He has extra-base hits in seven of those eight games, including four homers. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-homers-twice-in-win-over-yankees

Grichuk tied things up in the bottom of the third inning with his first long ball of the night on a two-seam fastball that he barreled up and drove over the wall in right-centre field. Jump ahead to the sixth inning, and Grichuk broke that 3-3 tie with a three-run shot to left that scored Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-homers-twice-in-win-over-yankees

With the spotlight squarely on those young hitters in front of him and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over these final weeks, Grichuk has quietly put up career highs in home runs and RBIs despite his low average and on-base percentage. His recent power to the opposite field has been an encouraging sign that those numbers can move in the right direction late in the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-homers-twice-in-win-over-yankees

Behind Grichuk’s four-RBI day, rookie T.J. Zeuch followed opener Wilmer Font and pitched 5 1/3 innings. The big right-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, striking out five. Derek Law and Sam Gaviglio bridged the gap to closer Ken Giles, who locked down his 20th save of the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-homers-twice-in-win-over-yankees

New York will have an off day on Monday before opening up a three game series in the Bronx on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels where Luis Severino will make his return to the big league mound after working his way back from a shoulder as well as a lat injury.