Yankees Game 154: Pitcher's duel goes Jays way as offense remains absent
For the first time since 1975, the New York Yankees have been shutout in three consecutive games.
New York Yankees 0 – Toronto Blue Jays 3 Amidst offensive ineptitude, the Yankees turn to the veteran on the mound to give the offense time to wake up. CC Sabathia faced trouble in the second inning when Jose Bautista got on with a leadoff double. Russell Martin was walked but a double play doused the rally. Following a walk of Melvin Upton Jr., Dioner Navarro popped out to end the inning. Like Sabathia, Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman threw scoreless baseball. In the fourth inning, Brett Gardner led off with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Unfortunately, strikeouts of Jacoby Ellsbury and Gary Sanchez held Gardner at second in a fruitless inning. In seven scoreless innings, CC Sabathia allowed just four hits while walking three and striking out two.
The Yankees had a run 90 feet from scoring when Ronald Torreyes hit a two-out triple against Jason Grilli in the eighth inning. Pinch-hitting for Tyler Austin; Billy Butler had a seven-pitch battle with Grilli that resulted in a strikeout to end the inning. After seven scoreless innings from Sabathia, Tyler Clippard received the call for the eighth inning. Clippard got the first two outs of the inning before Josh Donaldson reached base with a single. A wild pitch advanced him to second base and Edwin Encarnacion walked. After falling behind 2-0 to Jose Bautista, the Blue Jays outfielder launched a three-run home run to left field to break the scoreless tie. In the ninth inning, Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna gave up a one-out single to Brett Gardner but Ellsbury and Sanchez could not generate a run as the Yankees were shutout for the third consecutive game.
The last time the New York Yankees were shutout three games in a row was 1975. The team has never been shutout in four consecutive games in franchise history. Win – Jason Grilli (7-5) Loss – Tyler Clippard (3-5) Save – Roberto Osuna (35) Notables Yankees *Brett Gardner – 1 for 3, BB *Ronald Torreyes – 1 for 3 Blue Jays *Jose Bautista – 2 for 4, R, 2B, Three-run home run (20) in the 8th, 3 RBI (65) *Josh Donaldson – 2 for 4, R Current Yankees Record: 79-75