Tommy Kahnle Serves Up Homer As New York Drops Opener To Toronto
After celebrating being crowned American League East Champions on Thursday with their 9-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels New York then had little to celebrate in the opening game of their three game series against Toronto.
Tommy Kahnle reared back for a fastball that missed its intended location, then watched Justin Smoak crush the offering into the right-field bleachers. The hurler then reached for the rosin bag, furiously spiking it on the back of the mound.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Kahnle trudged to the dugout having served up what would prove to be the deciding homer in a 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Friday at Yankee Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Smoak's go-ahead blast overshadowed a pair of Yankees homers from Aaron Judge and Tyler Wade, as Judge became the club's fifth player to reach the 25-homer plateau this season with a fourth-inning shot off starter Jacob Waguespack.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Wade bolstered his case for a spot on the postseason roster with a long two-run shot in the fifth, his second homer of the year. Wade's speed and defensive versatility figure to make him an appealing bench player for the upcoming American League Division Series. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
He's made a number of plays in the outfield that I think have been impressive," Boone said. "He's been having some good at-bats. Obviously the home run tonight to give us the lead there was huge. He's done a really nice job." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Wade's blast gave the Yankees a Major League-leading 294 home runs for the season. The Twins opened the evening with 293. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
One start after seeking treatment for left biceps tendinitis, Yankees starter J.A. Happ pitched well in a no-decision, limiting Toronto to two runs and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
I felt better coming into this game, and stronger for sure," Happ said. "Maybe [it was] a little benefit of having the extra day or two and doing a few things between starts here to try to help that. I felt a little more freedom and some more life on my fastball today." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Danny Jansen slugged a fifth-inning homer off Happ, the team-leading 34th surrendered by the left-hander this season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
"Toronto had some really good at-bats against him and hit quite a few balls hard against him," Boone said. "His line was pretty good, only giving up two runs. I thought he threw the ball really well." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Fingers crossed
The Yanks' home run leader with 38, Gleyber Torres gave his club a scare in the fourth inning when his right leg appeared to buckle while fielding Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s infield hit. Torres popped back up quickly, telling Boone and head athletic trainer Steve Donohue that he could keep playing.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
"We were going to get him [out of the game] just by his reaction," Boone said. "But we got out there and he was like, 'I was more scared rolling in the hole.' I said, 'Are you fine?' He said, 'Oh yeah, I'm fine.'" “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
That lasted until the seventh inning, when Torres was removed for precautionary reasons. Boone said Torres reported weakness in both legs after striking out in the sixth inning. Torres is expected to be evaluated by the Yankees' medical personnel. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
"I don't know if it's a little wet out there or beat up out there," Happ said. "Hopefully everything is going to be all right. It's a bummer that happened. Tough to see. Hopefully they made the right decision and he'll be all right." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Voices heard
Gardner and Boone griped about a 3-1 pitch from Ken Giles in the ninth inning that appeared to be outside but was ruled a strike by home plate umpire Joe West. Gardner fouled off the next pitch, then skied a fly ball to center field for the second out of the inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
"I think I reacted how you'd expect me to react," Gardner said. "I have a good idea of where the ball is in the strike zone. To be honest, if the ball is half that far outside off the plate, I still would've walked to first base. I just wasn't happy about it." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Pinch-hitter Mike Ford struck out for the final out against Giles, who logged his 21st save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
"It's a big spot," Gardner said. "[With a walk], we've got a baserunner against a guy who we've got a decent chance to steal second base against. The call didn't go in our favor." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/aaron-judge-25th-hr-yankees-fall-blue-jays
Meanwhile, Toronto was on the other end of the spectrum in the opening game thanks to first baseman Justin Smoak.
Smoak rises to the occasion in the tightest and latest moments of games, and he had at least one more of those moments left in his bat on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, as the veteran first baseman launched a two-run shot to right-center in the seventh inning to put the Blue Jays ahead for a 4-3 win over the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
The Blue Jays have won five games in a row, which ties a season high from July 28-Aug. 2. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
Smoak's 2019 stat line has looked more like his days with the Mariners than his days with Toronto, where he broke out with a 38-homer season and All-Star debut in 2017. His average hasn't touched .220 since July 5, but his team-leading 78 walks and 22 home runs have helped to keep his bat in the lineup. A steady glove and the unwavering respect of his young teammates as the clubhouse's quiet leader don't hurt, either. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
"You know what's funny?" manager Charlie Montoyo said after the game. "Right before he went to hit, I told [pitching coach Pete Walker] to get [Sam Gaviglio] going because, if [Smoak] goes deep here, [Buddy] Boshers faces one guy and then Sammy's got the rest. [Walker] just made the phone call and Smoak went deep. It was a pretty cool moment for us in the dugout." “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
Smoak still owns the high-pressure moments like he always has, though, which isn't surprising for one of the more even-keeled players in baseball. Of Smoak's 191 career home runs, 51 have put his team ahead and, over the past three seasons, he's hit 21 homers in the ninth inning or later. That's seven more than any other hitter in Major League Baseball, with Mike Moustakas (14) closest. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
"I think it just happens to be that, late in games the last few years, I've come up big," Smoak said. "Honestly, it's tough to do that because late in games these days, those guys are the best in the game. For me, I've just got to go out there and keep grinding through at-bats. Late in games, for some reason, I've been able to square some balls up." “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
Starter Jacob Waguespack was challenged with facing a great Yankees lineup in back-to-back starts and pushed through five innings after going just 3 2/3 last week at home. Waguespack opened with three scoreless innings, mixing in three strikeouts and plenty of weak contact, before Aaron Judge took him deep in the fourth inning for New York's first hit of the night. “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
Waguespack gave up a two-run shot to Tyler Wade in the fifth but stayed aggressive throughout, finishing the night with six strikeouts. The game plan to attack hitters early was similar to his strategy the last time out, but Waguespack executed better this time, hitting spots early in counts and keeping his misses out of the heart of the plate more consistently.”according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
"My big adjustment was trying to stay a little taller and be more directional towards the plate," Waguespack said. "It's a common thing for me to adjust on each outing. That was my goal going in, and throwing strikes. It's a lot easier whenever you can get ahead and put guys away earlier, rather than fighting back from behind in counts." “according to https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-smoak-hr-lifts-blue-jays-over-yankees
New York and Toronto will continue their series on Saturday afternoon with game two where James Paxton who has won nine starts in a row and is from Canada will get the ball for New York and will look to help them bounce back and even the series.