The long ball played a huge role in tonight’s contest between the Yankees and the Blue Jays, as Toronto entered the Bronx for their first matchup with New York this season. The bats looked slightly better, but the team ultimately fell just short
Patrick Corbin was on the mound for the Jays in the series opener, coming off a rough outing against the Rays, where he allowed nine hits and recorded just one strikeout. Things couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the southpaw, as Paul Goldschmidt hit the first pitch Corbin threw out to right field for a solo home run, giving the Yankees an immediate 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, he managed to get out of a bases-loaded jam, but could only limit the damage for so long, as in the bottom of the fourth, a J.C. Escarra sac fly brought home Anthony Volpe, and Goldschmidt lined a double to bring home Max Schuemann. Corbin would finish the night going four innings, allowing six hits, three runs, three walks, and three strikeouts.
On the offensive side, the Blue Jays continued to look sluggish in the early goings, struggling to muster anything off opposing southpaw Ryan Weathers, who cruised through his first three innings. He ran into trouble in the fourth when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto both singled, setting up Ernie Clement, who hit a three-run home run to left field, giving the Jays a 3-1 lead at that point. For Clement, it was his first XBH since May 9, when he hit a home run against the Angels.
The following inning, George Springer hit a solo shot off Weathers, giving the Jays a 4-3 advantage. It has been a rough start to the season for the 36-year-old, who is still looking to get his batting average above .200. This home run was his first since March 30th.
In the top of the sixth, Clement collected another RBI, bringing home Lenyn Sosa on a fielder’s choice off Yankees reliever Paul Blackburn, giving the Jays a 5-3 advantage. They would score their sixth and final run in the top of the ninth against closer David Bednar, who looked shaky at times, giving up a run-scoring double to Jesus Sanchez, though ultimately shut the door, giving the Yankees a victory.
It was in the bottom of the seventh that the rails began to fall off for the Jays, as Yariel Rodriguez entered the game, immediately allowing a single to Aaron Judge before Cody Bellinger hit a two-run shot, tying the game at 5-5 at that point.
Later in the inning, Rodriguez would walk Trent Grisham before allowing yet another two-run shot to Jazz Chisholm Jr., giving the Yankees a 7-5 lead they would not relinquish.
MLB Debut for Adam Macko
Though the Jays lost their lead late and dropped the first of a four-game set, Canadian Adam Macko made his big league debut after being added to the active roster before Sunday’s game in Detroit.
The southpaw faced Escarra in his first at bat and got the catcher to ground out to first base, before getting Goldschmidt and Ben Rice to ground out and line out respectively, retiring all three batters he faced. With a taxed bullpen and only two other lefty options out of the bullpen, Macko could work his way into regular playing time if he continues to perform at the highest level.
The Blue Jays will have flamethrower Dylan Cease on the mound for game two against the Yankees, going up against Will Warren for another 7:07 pm EST start time. Look for the Jays to get on the bats early and hold on to a lead with more high-leverage relievers likely available for the second of a huge four-game series.
