Toronto Blue Jays 9 – New York Yankees 5 (11 innings)
Tough loss in extras when the bullpen loses command.
After a scoreless first inning by Michael Pineda, the Yankees got instant offense from a quiet bat of late. With one out in the first inning, Brett Gardner went deep to right field for a solo home run that put the Yankees ahead. The offense kept producing when Chase Headley went yard in the second inning, a solo home run to right field that put the Yankees ahead by two.
In the second inning, Troy Tulowitzki collided with left fielder Kevin Pillar, forcing the slugging Blue Jays shortstop to exit with an injury.
In the fourth inning, the Blue Jays started to show life in their bats. With one out, Jose Bautista went the other way, hitting a solo home run to right field to bring the Blue Jays within one. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases in the inning but Ryan Goins grounded out, ending the inning with the lead intact.
The Yankees kept the instant offense going when Brian McCann led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single. Alex Rodriguez followed up with a home run to right field.
The two-run home run extended the Yankees lead to three.
In the fifth inning, the rare Ben Revere home run occurred. The solo home run brought the Yankees’ lead down to two. Pineda got the second out but a walk of Jose Bautista proved to be big. On a line drive, Edwin Encarnacion snuck the tying, two-run home run over the left field wall.
In 5 1/3 innings, Michael Pineda allowed four runs on six hits while walking two and striking out five.
The game remained tied at 4-4 until the eighth inning. After Betances struck out Josh Donaldson to finish the seventh inning, he returned for the eighth inning. Jose Bautista was the first batter Betances faced and the Blue Jays outfielder took Betances deep to center field, breaking the tie and giving the Blue Jays a late lead.
Aaron Sanchez came on for the eighth inning to try and hold the lead. The Yankees’ table setters set the tone perfectly to start the eighth inning. On a pair of full counts, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner walked. Brett Cecil came in for relief and got the first out but a wild pitch advanced Ellsbury, putting runners on the corners with one out. Brian McCann came through with a single to right center field, scoring Ellsbury and tying the game. On the base hit, Gardner made the bold move to advance to third, safely. Closer Roberto Osuna came in with the potential go-ahead run on third base and walked Alex Rodriguez to load the bases. Chase Headley popped out for the second out and Gregory Bird hit a laser that second baseman Cliff Pennington snagged and threw to first base to end the inning and the threat.
Andrew Miller provided two scoreless innings of relief to move the game into extra innings.
Bryan Mitchell took over in the 11th inning and did not have it. On four straight pitches, Edwin Encarnacion walked. Cliff Pennington was hit by a pitch on his back foot to put two on base. Chris Colabello walked on a full count to load the bases. Dioner Navarro struck out for the first out of the inning and reliever Chasen Shreve came on in relief. Pinch-hitter Russell Martin saw four straight pitches and the bases loaded walk put the Blue Jays ahead. After a strikeout of Kevin Pillar, Ben Revere hit a base hit to right, scoring a run. Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista walked to bring in two more runs as command eluded the lefty Shreve.
Nick Goody retired the last batter but the damage was done on the power of five walks, a hit batter and one hit.
Against reliever Liam Hendriks in the bottom of the inning, the Yankees threatened. Chase Headley hit a single and Greg Bird hit a double. But reliever Ryan Tepera cleaned up the inning, getting a ground out, strikeout and ground out to end a dreadful first game of two in a doubleheader.
Win – Liam Hendriks (5-0)
Loss – Bryan Mitchell (0-2)
Save – Ryan Tepera (1)
Notables
Blue Jays
*Jose Bautista – 2 for 4, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 HR (Two-run & Solo) in the 4th & 8th, 3 RBI (99)
*Edwin Encarnacion – 2 for 4, R, BB, Two-run home run (32) in the 5th, 2 RBI (99)
Yankees
*Brian McCann – 3 for 5, R, RBI (87)
*Alex Rodriguez – 1 for 3, R, BB, Two-run home run (31) in the 4th, 2 RBI (80)
Current Yankees Record: 77-63
