J.A. Happ strong again as Blue Jays top Yankees

J.A. Happ pitched another gem and the offence hit six doubles as the Toronto Blue Jays topped the New York Yankees 7-2 on Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre.

In his second start since signing a three-year, $36-million contract with the Blue Jays (4-5) early in free agency, Happ threw 101 pitches over 6.0 innings, allowing just one earned run. The left-hander did walk three batters, but struck out four and did well to scatter his seven hits against.

Goins’ two doubles, a single, and two RBIs were supported by Jose Bautista, who doubled home Josh Donaldson in the bottom of the eighth to provide the first dose of insurance. Troy Tulowitzki showed a sign of life at the plate, too, singling in Bautista for Toronto’s fifth fun of the night as the star shortstop looks to get his season on track.

This represents Toronto’s first double-digit hits game of the season, an encouraging sign for an offence that has looked largely out of sync and undisciplined through the first week of play.

Brett Cecil took the ball from Happ for the seventh, and even within his one inning of work, the lefty showed progress with his signature curveball. Drew Storen allowed a solo shot in his one inning of work before Pat Venditte, who was called up earlier in the day, pitched the ninth inning in a non-save situation. The ambidextrous Venditte pitched a clean ninth, throwing to batters from both the left and right sides.

For the Yankees (4-3), Michael Pineda allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with six strikeouts, as his impressive slide caused problems for the Blue Jays bats. It was Ivan Nova who took the brunt of the damage with the big eighth inning.

On Thursday night in the rubber match, Marcus Stroman is scheduled to face Nathan Eovaldi at 7:07 ET.