Game Recap: Blue Jays Shutout Yankees and Take Series
The Blue Jays were looking for a series win against the Yankees tonight in the most important three game set they’ve played in 22 years. Last night was a bit of a debacle with Toronto’s continued bullpen struggles of late and missed opportunities on offence. Toronto needed a big start from Marcus Stroman and he delivered.
The Jays put runners on in each of the first four innings but was unable to bring any of them home. They went in order in the 5th. Ivan Nova was pulled early in the 6th after a solid start. Later in the 6th Kevin Pillar singled home Russell Martin but the Jays left three on base that inning as well. It looked like the Jays were about to squander another opportunity with runners in scoring position in the 7th but Russell Martin had other ideas. He sent an Andrew Bailey offering out of the yard to cash in three runs and give the Jays some breathing room.
It was a low scoring affair for most of the night and Marcus Stroman gave the Jays what they needed: shutdown innings. He blanked the Yankees over 7 innings and threw 95 pitches. He didn’t allow a New York runner to get past second.
Taking over for Stroman in the 8th, Brett Cecil continued his recent dominance and sat down the Yankees in order. Roberto Osuna put the nail in the Yankees coffin tonight with a scoreless 9th. Even with the disappointing loss in the second game of this series, the Jays have to be pleased taking their biggest series of the year.
Game Notes:
– The Jays got good news re Devon Travis: he has no structural damage and will be ready for the spring
– The Yankees now trail the Blue Jays by 3.5 games. The Jays have 10 games left
– Darwin Barney got his first hit as a Jay
MVJ: Marcus Stroman
Next: Blue Jays Benefitting from Patient Navarro