Yankees rally past Blue Jays 7-6 to open homestand
New York improves record in one-run games to 4-10 after defeating Toronto in first meeting since last year’s AL Division Series.
The New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on Monday night, securing a victory that marked the beginning of their homestand against AL East rivals. The win came after a difficult 2-7 road trip and served as the first contest between the two clubs since New York lost last year’s AL Division Series to Toronto. The Yankees improved their record in one-run games to 4-10 following the narrow victory.
Toronto held the lead for much of the early contest, taking a 3-1 advantage in the fourth inning when Ernie Clement hit a three-run home run off Ryan Weathers. Clement’s blast, described as a changeup hit just above the ground, drove in three runs and put the Blue Jays ahead. Clement finished with four RBIs for Toronto, while George Springer recorded his first home run since March 30.
The Yankees mounted a decisive rally in the seventh inning when trailing 5-3. Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. both hit two-run home runs off Yariel Rodríguez, who had just entered the game. Bellinger drove a splitter into the right-center field bullpen, and Chisholm followed with a slider that hit the foul pole. Chisholm celebrated the swing with a basketball jump shot motion as he rounded the bases.
Paul Goldschmidt contributed two runs for New York, including a home run on the first pitch of the game from Patrick Corbin. Aaron Judge also singled off Rodríguez during the seventh-inning rally. Pinch-hitter Trent Grisham walked to load the bases before Chisholm’s home run, shifting the momentum back to the Yankees.
Despite leading 7-5 entering the ninth inning, the Yankees faced a tense finish. Closer David Bednar allowed a run after walking Ernie Clement and allowing an RBI double from Jesús Sánchez. However, Bednar recorded his 11th save in 13 chances by striking out George Springer and retiring Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a groundout. Paul Blackburn provided one-hit relief over 1 2/3 innings to preserve the lead.
Toronto’s Adam Macko, a 25-year-old left-hander born in Slovakia, made his major league debut and recorded three straight outs. Meanwhile, Yankees catcher Austin Wells remained out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive day. Wells had struggled significantly on the recent road trip, batting .087 with 11 strikeouts in 23 at-bats, which dropped his season average to .173.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday night, with Yankees right-hander Will Warren (5-1, 3.42 ERA) set to start against Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (3-1, 2.41 ERA).
