Without minimizing the red-hot start of the unblemished Baltimore Orioles, the big matchup of A.L. East foes took place in Toronto Tuesday. After a rain out and a day off, it was well worth the wait, as the New York Yankees edged the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2. The Yankees did all of the little things well and made big plays and pitches when they needed them.
Once again as the late great Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” Here’s what I observed in the Yankees victory.
Bronx bullies:
The Yankees bullpen is much too strong! Aside from a pair of walks, the bullpen composed four innings of flawless pitching. Johnny Barbato earned his first major-league victory. Chasen Shreve notched two outs. Dellin Betances was absolutely filthy, fanning three across 1.1 frames. Andrew Miller whiffed two and hammered down his second save of the campaign.
Through 21.1 innings on the early season, the Yanks bullpen sports a combined 0.84 ERA, .190 batting average against and 32 strikeouts.
Buckled. https://t.co/415g7ZjSPD
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2016
Moving to the Head of the class:
Chase Headley was superb in the field and at the plate. Headley collected two hits, made a diving stab at third in the seventh inning.
Did he really just catch that?!
Chase Headley flashing some leather at the hot corner. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/Z6RgYLYSQ7
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 13, 2016
Tanaka Tuesday:
It was a grind but Masahiro Tanaka picked it up and got stronger as the game progressed. Although he only lasted five frames, Tanaka kept the Jays off balance with his off-speed pitches and fanned six.
FINAL: #Yankees 3, Blue Jays 2. pic.twitter.com/0Kb19NLz12
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 13, 2016
Oh McCannada!:
Playing through pain, after taking a foul ball off his big left toe in the fifth, Brian McCann delivered a game-tying home run in the sixth inning. McCann likely won’t be in the lineup Wednesday.
Brian McCann. All Summer ’16. #LetsGoYankeeshttps://t.co/rVZW8FwUjR
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 13, 2016
Hit ’em where they ain’t:
With the infield drawn in, Jacoby Ellsbury lofted a hit to left, breaking the tie with the eventual game-winner.
