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Series Recap
·3 min read

Series Recap: Yankees drop series to Blue Jays but clinch playoff spot

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In what wasn’t the prettiest series, the New York Yankees took care of business as far as clinching a postseason berth is concerned. The Toronto Blue Jays decided to play like it was their World Series and how most thought they would play the first 150 games or so this season.

Despite dropping two of three, the Yankees return to the playoffs for the 53rd time in franchise history. There’s something about a burgeoning dynasty wrapping up a playoff spot in Toronto. Plus, Aaron Judge might be pushing himself back atop the AL MVP discussion.

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GAME 1

From the outset, it appeared as though the Yankees would keep rolling through on their trip to Toronto. Yet, they left the door open and the Blue Jays blew the doors off in an 8-1 victory.

ALL RISE EH!

During the first inning, Aaron Judge posted the Yankees to a 1-0 lead, drilling a Marco Estrada offering off the LED scoreboard in left. Judge’s 46th homer traveled 469 feet or 142.9512 meters if you’re scoring in Canada.

LACK OF FOCUS

Masahiro Tanaka was not on his game and he didn’t receive much help in the early going either. With a runner first in the first inning, a potential double-play ball turned into runners at the corners after a Josh Donalson ball hit to Todd Frazier saw Frazier’s throw muffed on the receiving end by Starlin Castro. A one-out groundout to third by Jose Bautista enabled Teoscar Hernandez to score and tie the game.

During the top of the third, Frazier doubled to right and with one down failed to tag on a deep Jacoby Ellsbury flyout to Bautista in right. After the ball was thrown back in for whatever reason Frazier walked off the bag for a microsecond and was tagged out to end the inning.

From there Toronto tattooed Tanaka, Hernandez homered to left in the third, Russell Martin delivered a two-run shot to left in the fourth and an obviously gassed Tanaka surrendered a grand slam to Ryan Goins in the sixth.

GAME 2

How this for rebuilding the Empire? There’s something about a future dynasty clinching a postseason berth in Toronto. Like the 1995 edition, the 2017 Yankees locked down a spot with a 5-1 victory.

GRAY SHINES

Aside from a solo homer in the third by Hernandez, Sonny Gray provided the Yankees with a stellar outing. Gray was able to pitch with run support and delivered his eighth start of yielding two or fewer runs. Working six frames, Gray fanned four and scattered four hits.

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OUR BIRD IS BETTER

In “bird on bird crime,” Greg Bird went all deja vu Donnie Baseball with a home run in the clincher. After walks to Chase Headley and Castro, Bird belted a Joe Biagini offering to right, making the score 3-1 in the fifth.

The Bronx Bombers would add more offense on a Todd Frazier homer in the eighth and an infield single by Castro in the ninth.

BULLPEN PLAYOFF PREVIEW

With apologies to Dellin Betances, what the New York bullpen trotted out may have been a test of what the “formula” might look like come October. Chad Green, David Robertson and Aroldis Chapman combined for three frames of flawless ball.

GAME 3

I wouldn’t call it a hangover but one has the sense if the Yankees had pitched Jordan Montgomery, they might’ve stood a better chance. Yet, the Blue Jays lineup busted out once again for a 9-5 victory.

PITCHING OFF THE ROSTER

From a brilliant outing against the Minnesota Twins to possibly pitching himself off the playoff roster, Jaime Garcia was brutal. Garcia only lasted 2.1 innings, allowing five runs. Jonathan Holder followed and didn’t fare much better, recording only two outs and allowing three inherited runners to score on double by Martin. Bryan Mitchell only registered one out and gave up four runs.

At least Betances tossed a scoreless frame but otherwise, it was a brutal day on the bump for New York pitchers.

JUDGE JACKS JAYS

Baseball stats people love round numbers and Judge is closing in on 50 home runs. If he stays hot and finishes at .290 with 50 home runs, he’s your AL MVP.

During the sixth, the rookie right fielder rocked a Marcus Stroman offering to left for home run No. 47.

Facing Ryan Tepera in the seventh, Judge rocked a two-run bomb to left-center for home run No. 48.

ON DECK

At 86-69, the Yankees head home for their final homestand of the regular season, where they’ll take on the Kansas City Royals in a makeup game starting Monday afternoon.

Pitching probables Jake Junis vs. CC Sabathia.