It was a pitching duel until late, but the Jays offence finally got it done in the ninth. Alejandro Kirk was the hero, driving in the tying and winning runs and solidifying his case as the best catcher in the AL with a pair of clutch caught steakings.
The offence couldn’t solve Carlos Carrasco. Over five innings they managed only three hits (singles by Bo Bichette and Nathan Lukes and a double by Addison Barger) and a paid of walks (by Vladimir Guerrero jr. and Andres Gimenez). They never really had a serious chance of scoring.
Fortunately, Jose Berrios proved to be an equally tough test for the Yankees. They threatened in the third, with a pair of singles putting men on the corners with one out. Berrios escaped with the help of his defence, though. Vlad came home with the throw after a chopper to first and got the lead running to prevent a score. He got through the next two innings mostly uneventfully and recorded an out in the sixth before a walk (on which he was badly squeezed) forced him out of the game. In all, he went 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out five. It was a solid outing and a good sign after an inconsistent start to the season.
Brendon Little took over. Alejandro Kirk threw Cody Bellinger out stealing following his first pitch, making his job considerably easier. Little gave up a single to Jazz Chisholm, but Kirk proceeded to gun him down too to end the inning.
Vlad finally broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth with a solo home run off reliever Tim Hill. It was a little bit off the end of the bat (which sounded like it might have broken), but Vlad muscled it over the wall in left centre.
Kirk singled in the top of the seventh, but a fielder’s choice grounder and a double play prevented them from doing anything with him. Little returned to start the bottom half. Anthony Volpe lead of with a double and advanced to third on a fly out. Oswaldo Cabrera drove him home with a ground ball single to tie it at one. Little struck out the next batter before Yimi Garcia got the call to face Aaron Judge. Judge walked, but Garcia was able to get Ben Rice to fly out.
Lukes singled to lead off to lead off the eighth, but again the Jays couldn’t capitalize. Garcia got the first out before giving way to Mason Fluharty. A bloop double, walk and hit batter loaded the bases. The double was probably on George Springer, who was charging in and looked like he would have caught the ball but pulled up and let it fall in. A sac fly put the Yankees ahead 2-1 before he could get out of it.
Yankees closer Devin Williams hasn’t had it this year, and tonight was no different. He fell behind Springer before giving up a line single, hit Andres Gimenez, and then allowed Kirk to line a double over the centre fielder’s head to put the Jays back in front 3-2. Kirk left the game a hero, with Tyler Heineman coming on to pinch run. Mark Leiter jr. was called to take over, but Addison Barger lined his second pitch to left to score Heineman and make it 4-2.
With a save now in play, Jeff Hoffman came on to close it out. He got a ground out from Trent Grisham and struck out Judge, but a Rice double put Paul Goldschmidt at the plate as the tying run. He popped out and the Jays secured the win.
Jays of the Day: Berrios (0.273), Guerrero (0.114), Gimenez (0.160), Kirk (0.421, plus gold star D)
The other one: Fluharty (-0.280)
We’ll be back tomorrow at 1:05pm ET. Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.16) takes on new Yankee Max Fried (4-0, 1.42). See you there.