Come fall, it was another third-place finish for the Jays (84-78), who were stuck in limbo behind the powerful Yankees and Red Sox.
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The Yankees may have long postseason odds, but until they’re mathematically eliminated, they’re still in the race and every game means something.
Coming off a lacklustre performance on Monday when they were blanked by the Yankees 1-0, the Jays spotted NY a 6-0 lead Tuesday night, then tracked them down and passed them over the final four innings for a 12-6 victory that leaves Toronto in first place all alone in the American League East.
But don’t expect any other team, even his hometown team, Don Mattingly’s guaranteed-to-not-win-the-Pennant Miami Marlins, to go for him.
It was a huge game, said manager John Gibbons.
“I may have pressed a little bit more than I do now”, Happ said of being able to better navigate his way through rough waters. They climbed back atop the AL East, just ahead of Baltimore and Boston.
“It’s tough, but you just have to focus on executing pitches”, Warren said.
The Yankees won the last game 1-0, and NY leads the series 1-0.
In the end, Girardi decided he would rather gamble on his new back-of-the-bullpen trio of Tyler Clippard, Adam Warren and Betances than with Pineda’s health and future.
The Blue Jays have presented a confusing but highly entertaining picture of a first-place team here at Yankee Stadium over the past two nights. “I just think it’s a cyclical thing – that when you get on the right vibe, more good happens”.
Held scoreless over the first 14 innings of the series, Toronto’s big bats finally busted loose after a downpour in the middle of the fifth ended Pineda’s strong start.
Chad Green struck out 11 in six dominant innings.
With Dickey out of the game in the sixth, Joe Biagini got himself into a heap of trouble, loading the bases with one out on two singles and a walk. He allowed two unearned runs in seven innings of a 3-1 loss at NY on May 26 and two earned runs in six innings five days later in Toronto.
Green retired the first 13 batters, with just one ball hit out of the infield. The Tigers lost slugger Miguel Cabrera after four innings to a strained left biceps. He said the Donaldson at-bat took a lot out of him. He’s hitting.340 so far with 4 homers and 10 RBI. We were shut down early and after last night, maybe that is the start of something.
The game ball for tonight goes to Russell Ma….no no Troy Tulo… no actually Edwin Encarna…. The duo made for a great combination – as evidence in Green’s minor league numbers – and it was proven on the big league stage as well. The Yankees have a 6-0 record when they don’t allow any runs. They had four hits off Pineda and had one runner in scoring position. Toronto activated OF Ezequiel Carrera from the 15-day disabled list and designated OF Junior Lake for assignment.
The Yankees bullpen showed no vigor, and the lineup failed to do any more damage the rest of the night. His double off Toronto starter and loser R.A. Dickey scored Brian McCann from second base in the fourth inning. First, a power hitter batting from the left side of the plate, then a right-handed veteran who’s aggressive against fastballs. Tickets start from $17 in the outfield bleachers across the three-game series.
Pineda pitched 6.0 innings in his most recent start, surrendering two runs, striking out three and walking two in a 4-2 win over the Red Sox.
Estrada was outstanding August 3 in Houston when he allowed one run and four hits in seven innings.
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While the rainfall was significant enough to force a forty to forty-five minute rain delay in the Bronx, when play did resume in the bottom of the fourth inning, Estrada was out and Scott Feldman, whom the Jays acquired from the Houston Astros at the non-waiver trade deadline, was now on the bump. In all, he gave up one run on three hits for the win.
