Toronto Blue Jays 0 – New York Yankees 2
Looking for the sweep, the Yankees turned to the return of Bryan Mitchell.
Bryan Mitchell made his season debut after suffering an injury at the end of spring training and gave up a lead off single to Devon Travis. One out later, Edwin Encarnacion grounded into a double play that ended the inning. In the third inning, Mitchell became a little erratic when he walked Melvin Upton and Kevin Pillar to lead off. But the pitcher’s best friend came through again as a double play slowed the inning down. A ground out by Josh Donaldson kept the Blue Jays quiet after three innings.
Marcus Stroman kept the Yankees off the scoreboard until the third inning.
With two outs in the third inning, Starlin Castro salvaged the inning with a laser of a line drive solo home run into left field. The home run was the 20th of the season for Castro. He is the fourth Yankees second baseman in franchise history with a 20 home run season.
Following Castro’s home run, Didi Gregorius hit a double to left-center field and came around to score on a single by Brian McCann.
After a scoreless fourth and fifth inning, Mitchell gave up a lead off double to Devon Travis to start the sixth inning. Luis Severino came on in relief after Mitchell received a warm hand from the home crowd. Severino got the first out in a rundown before getting two more outs to keep the Blue Jays off the scoreboard.
In five innings, Bryan Mitchell allowed no runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out one. He threw 80 pitches in a successful season debut.
Severino returned for the seventh inning and worked around a one-out double with some replay assistance. On a soft ground ball by Michael Saunders, Austin Romine threw to first but Saunders was called safe. After a review, the call was overturned and Saunders was the second out of the inning instead of having runners on the corners with one out. Severino followed up with a strikeout of Upton to end the inning. In the eighth inning, Severino got the first two outs of the inning but a walk of Josh Donaldson put the tying run at the plate. On a deep fly ball to right field, Edwin Encarnacion reached the wall where Aaron Judge defended. The big right fielder made the catch, ending the inning with the shutout intact.
In three innings, Luis Severino allowed no runs with one hit. He walked one and struck out three.
He needed 52 pitches in relief.
With the two-run lead and Dellin Betances unavailable, Tyler Clippard received the closer duties tonight. Clippard began the ninth inning with strikeouts of Jose Bautista and Dioner Navarro. Clippard quickly recorded the third and final out on his 11th pitch when he got Troy Tulowitzki to fly out.
The much-needed sweep was completed.
Win – Bryan Mitchell (1-0)
Loss – Marcus Stroman (9-7)
Save – Tyler Clippard (2)
Notables
Blue Jays
*Troy Tulowitzki – 2 for 4, 2 2B
*Devon Travis – 2 for 4, 2B
Yankees
*Starlin Castro – 1 for 4, R, Solo home run (20) in the 3rd, RBI (66)
*Brian McCann – 1 for 4, RBI (53)
Current Yankees Record: 73-65
