Yankees Game 137: Thrilling comeback victory for the Yankees

Two comebacks, a birthday boy home run and a tremendous game-winning catch by Brett Gardner all crucial in tonight's New York Yankees win.

Toronto Blue Jays – New York Yankees

The Yankees continued their series with the Toronto Blue Jays behind Luis Cessa.

After getting the first two outs via strikeouts, Cessa faced Edwin Encarnacion and Encarnacion took Cessa deep to left with a home run into the second deck. Aaron Sanchez held the Yankees quiet until the fourth inning. Brian McCann went deep to right with two outs for a game-tying solo home run.

In the fifth inning, Kevin Pillar and Devon Travis reached on a pair of singles and Pillar came around to score on a single to left field by Jose Bautista that put the Blue Jays back ahead.

In the sixth inning, Cessa walked Martin and got a line out of Troy Tulowitzki but that was the end of the night for Cessa. James Pazos did not get Michael Saunders out as he hit a single. Adam Warren got the tough task and made it tougher with a walk of Kevin Pillar that loaded the bases. With the bases loaded, Adam Warren generated a huge double play, as Tyler Austin fielded it, threw to Didi Gregorius who turned it to Adam Warren covering first base to maintain the deficit at just one.

In 5 1/3 innings, Luis Cessa allowed two runs on six hits with two walks. He struck out three.

In the seventh inning, the Yankees got to Aaron Sanchez one more time. With two outs, Aaron Judge hit a single up the middle to extend the inning to the birthday boy. Turning 25, Tyler Austin took Aaron Sanchez to deep right field for a go-ahead two-run home run.

In the eighth inning, Adam Warren got the first two outs of the inning but Troy Tulowitzki extended the inning with a single. Mixing-and-matching took place as Tommy Layne forced the pinch-hitter Melvin Upton to the plate. Upton walked and Layne was replaced with Ben Heller. The rookie reliever gave up a double off the wall in left field for two runs that put the Blue Jays back ahead. Justin Smoak walked to put two on and Chasen Shreve finally ended the two-run inning with a strikeout of Devon Travis.

With the Yankees trailing, Jason Grilli came on in the eighth inning for the hold. After a walk of Jacoby Ellsbury, Grilli got Gary Sanchez to strikeout. Didi Gregorius picked up the rookie when he hit a fly ball out of the reach of the diving Kevin Pillar for a game-tying triple. Starlin Castro did not let the game stay tied when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Yankees back the lead. After a walk of Brian McCann, Chase Headley quickly added some insurance when he hit a two-run home run to right field. The two-run home run proved to be very important in the four-run eighth inning.

On for the save, Dellin Betances was erratic. Betances led off the inning with walks of Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson. After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Edwin Encarnacion reached on an infield single that reduced the Yankees lead to two. Russell Martin struck out for the first out but Dioner Navarro walked to load the bases. Melvin Upton made it a one-run game when he beat Betances to first base on a slow-rolling infield single. With Betances' pitch count reaching 40, Blake Parker was called for the two-out save, despite Betances' visible desire to stay in the game. Parker got Kevin Pillar to strikeout looking for the second out of the inning. Then, on a fly ball to deep left field by Justin Smoak, Brett Gardner made a thrilling leap at the wall and caught the ball on the edge of his glove, discovering he came down with the ball and made one more leap; this one of joy as the Yankees made the thrilling win with the game-saving catch.

Win – Chasen Shreve (2-1)

Loss – Jason Grilli (5-5)

Save – Blake Parker (1)

Notables

Blue Jays

*Kevin Pillar – 3 for 4, R, 2B, 2 RBI (48)

*Edwin Encarnacion – 2 for 5, R, Solo home run (37) in the 1st, 2 RBI (112)

Yankees

*Tyler Austin – 1 for 2, R, BB, Two-run home run (2) in the 7th, 2 RBI (6)

*Chase Headley – 1 for 4, R, Two-run home run (13) in the 8th, 2 RBI (48)

Current Yankees Record: 72-65