Toronto Blue Jays 3 — New York Yankees 7
Brian McCann was a key contributor in this big divisional matchup.
After a scoreless first inning by Chase Whitley, the Yankees looked to score early against 10-game winner Mark Buehrle. Brett Gardner would lead off with a single and Derek Jeter would reach base on an error by third baseman Brett Lawrie. Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira would fly out for the first two outs of the inning, but of all people, Alfonso Soriano came through. Mired in a season long slump, Alfonso Soriano, notorious pull hitter, defied the shift and singled to right field to score the Yankees first run.
In the fourth inning, Whitley would give up a lead off single and a hit batter created a problem. With two outs in the inning, Dioner Navarro and Colby Rasmus would hit back-to-back singles and took the lead for the Blue Jays.
After retrieving the lead, Buehrle needed a shut down inning in response to the lead. A lead off single by Carlos Beltran is not the way you want to start the inning. A two-run home run by Brian McCann is the absolute worst way to face the first two batters of the inning after you get the lead. The eighth home run of McCann’s debut season with the Yankees was a laser to right field that was just high enough to put the Yankees ahead.
In five innings, Chase Whitley allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out two. It was not a good start for Whitley but he left with the lead and gave the Yankees the opportunity to win.
Adam Warren followed Whitley on the mound for the sixth inning and proceeded to strike out all three batters he faced. Warren would pitch a scoreless seventh inning but the talk of the inning was insurance.
Brett Gardner would open the seventh inning with his fourth single of the game. Derek Jeter would foul out on a poor bunt but Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira would hit a pair of singles to load the bases with one out. Right-hander Chad Jenkins would call for Ichiro Suzuki to pinch hit for Alfonso Soriano but the response move was to bring in left-handed reliever Brett Cecil. The new reliever would proceed to walk in an insurance run before getting the second out on a pop up by Carlos Beltran. Brian McCann, entering the at-bat with two runs batted in already, would hit a line drive to right center that got past the diving Rasmus and it would roll all the way to the wall. McCann in his fastest catcher speed would hustle all the way to third for an amazing bases-clearing triple.
With a five-run lead, rookie Jose Ramirez was given some mop-up work but a pair of doubles would knock the struggling reliever out of the game. Dominant Dellin Betances would get the call. He would strike out two and walk one in his inning of work, despite not being able to locate his fastball in the strike zone. The outstanding reliever made the most of the pitches he could locate and still held the opposition hitless.
Strangely with a four-run lead, David Robertson got the call in a non-save situation. He would get the three outs needed on 17 pitches as the Yankees continue to make up ground in the American League East.
The last Yankee catcher to have a triple and a home run with five runs batted in in a game was Elston Howard on August 19, 1962 against the Kansas City A’s
Win – Chase Whitley (3-0)
Loss – Mark Buehrle (10-4)
Notables
Blue Jays
*Jose Bautista – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI (48)
*Colby Rasmus – 1 for 4, RBI (20)
Yankees
*Brian McCann – 2 for 3, R, BB, 3B, 2-Run Home Run (8) in the 4th, 5 RBI (33)
*Brett Gardner – 4 for 5, 2 R
Current Yankees Record: 37-33
