TORONTO – Michael Pineda struggled in Friday night’s loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander was hounded for 10 hits and five earned runs in only five innings of action. Josh Donaldson’s two-home run game proved to be decisive as the Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees, 7-5.
Pineda’s opposition, Francisco Liriano, returned from the disabled list Friday night and picked up the victory over five innings pitched. The left-hander struck out five and allowed only two earned runs on four hits. The Blue Jays were limiting Liriano’s pitch count due to his nagging shoulder injury that he just battled back from.
The Yankees entered the top of the sixth inning trailing 5-0, but powered back behind the bats of Aaron Judge and Starlin Castro, who both hit two-run home runs. Judge’s home run marked his major league leading 18th home run this season.
Every time the Yankees scored a run, the Blue Jays had an answer. In the bottom half of the sixth, Donaldson clubbed his second home run of the game, extending the Jays’ lead, 6-4. Matt Holliday doubled home a run in the seventh inning, which was answered again by the Jays in the bottom half of that inning.
Pineda’s 10 hits allowed were the most he’s ceded this season and manager Joe Girardi said he struggled all night. “He gave up the three in the first and battled through the next four innings but he just wasn’t very sharp,” the Yankees’ skipper said.
With the loss, the Yankees are now 31-21 on the season but still lead the Baltimore Orioles by 2.5 games in the American League East.
UP NEXT: Jordan Montgomery will look to help the Yankees secure a victory on Saturday afternoon when he takes on Jays’ starter Joe Biagini.
Win- Francisco Liriano
Loss- Michael Pineda
Save- Roberto Osuna
