Toronto Blue Jays: Crucial win over the Yankees grips wild-card hopes

The Toronto Blue Jays offense responded early and late in the game to secure a much-needed win at the Rogers Center against the red-hot New York Yankees.

With a 30,000 capacity at the stadium for the second night in a row, fans (home and visiting) packed the big white building to witness a matchup between the Blue Jays and the Bronx Bombers. The dome was loud, brining back semi-flashbacks of 2015. Meaningful September baseball in Toronto is back in the midst of the thick stadium lights and nippy crisp fall air in the city.

After falling 7-2 to New York last night, the Blue Jays understood the importance of securing a win, to keep the engine oiled within the American League wild-card race.  The Blue Jays went with RHP Jose Berrios, up against the Yankees ace, RHP Gerrit Cole.

Blue Jays offense struck early and quick, with Marcus Semien’s long-ball in the bottom of the 1st, his 44th Homerun of the year, scoring George Springer who doubled to kick it off.  Following this was a single by Springer to score Santiago Espinal in the bottom of the second.  Bo Bichette then slaps a solo bomb in the bottom of the third.  The Yankees responded in the 5th inning with two doubles (Gleyber Torres and Brett Gardner) and a single (Gio Urshela) to plate two runs across while scoring one more in the 6th inning. With a tied game in the seventh inning, LHP Tim Mayza was summoned to replace Berrios. Bottom 8th was where the magic sparked, with the big boy bat of Bo Bichette smacking a go-ahead solo-homerun to give the Blue Jays the 6-5 lead.  Without question, the big Markham, Ontario stopper Jordan Romano was let out the pen to secure the win in the bottom of the 9th.

Blue Jays Key Takes of the game

Jose Berrios

Line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 K, 0 BB, 3.52 ERA

Berrios was dealing tonight against a sizzling Yankees lineup. His off-speed was executed beautifully, working counts surgically, fanning seven bats in six innings. He utilized his curveball early and late in counts.  The changeup worked low and the fastball painted all corners with tail. The sinker was a weapon that threw off New York bats.  This is the Berrios we wanted to see in this situation.  Command was on point.

Marcus Semien

1 run, 1 hit, 2 RBI’s in 4 at-bat’s.

This is a guy that got his job done as a run generator in this lineup.  Huge production against the Yankees ace, adding to the offense with his 44th dinger of the year, along with 100 and 101 RBI’s on the season. He hold’s the MLB record for most homeruns in a single season by a 2nd baseman.

Bo Bichette

Given the situation, this may have been Bo’s most important offensive production of the year.  Bichette is a guy that will be trusted and looked upon in such scenarios, similar to guys like Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, George Springer, Javy Baez and more.  He finished with two runs, three hits, two RBIs, and two God-given long balls, number 27 and 28 on the year, with RBI’s 100 and 101 in a season-saving situation.

Jordan Romano

The Markham boy continues to throw GAS; throwing one inning, striking out one and securing his three outs to pack away a nail-biting win for the Blue Jays. His composure remains key and remains present in outings.  His ability to control matchups, command/move around his fastball and work top and bottom shelf is key. He’s secured save number 22 on the year.

The Blue Jays look to win the series with the CY Young candidate Robbie Ray  taking the bump on Thursday night.  With a Red Sox win, Yankees loss, the Blue Jays are 0.5 games behind Seattle who are now 0.5 games behind Boston.