Aaron Judge delivered a memorable performance, smacking two crucial two-run homers to propel the New York Yankees to a convincing 6-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The result forced Toronto to endure at least another day of suspense as they seek to secure a coveted playoff spot.
Giancarlo Stanton also played a pivotal role for the Yankees with his two-run single in the fifth inning, contributing to New York’s third consecutive win.
The game showcased an outstanding pitching duel between Gerrit Cole and Jose Berrios. Cole, with a season record of 15-4, demonstrated his Cy Young Award-worthy form by delivering a commanding two-hit complete game shutout. Notably, he did not concede a single run or walk in his final start of the season.
On the other side, Jose Berrios, despite recording an impressive 10 strikeouts, allowed four runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. Toronto’s bullpen, with Trevor Richards, Genesis Cabrera, and Jay Jackson in relief of Berrios, couldn’t stem the tide as the Blue Jays missed a crucial opportunity to inch closer to a playoff berth.
As of now, the Blue Jays hold the American League’s second wild-card spot, with only the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners positioned to challenge their postseason aspirations.
With this loss, Toronto remains one game ahead of the Astros in the wild-card race and 1.5 games ahead of the Mariners, who hosted the Astros later on the same day.
Gerrit Cole, whose remarkable performance solidified his Cy Young candidacy, finished the season with an AL-best 2.63 earned-run average, 209 innings pitched, 222 strikeouts, and an impressive 24 quality starts.
While Cole appears to be the frontrunner for the Cy Young Award, it’s worth noting that Blue Jays’ ace Kevin Gausman is also in the conversation, though he trails behind the likes of Seattle’s Luis Castillo and Minnesota’s Sonny Gray in the odds.
In the early innings, Berrios showcased his own pitching prowess, particularly in the second inning when he struck out three batters, including Anthony Volpe, with just 12 pitches. However, a walk to DJ LeMahieu in the fourth inning allowed Judge to capitalize, sending the first pitch he saw out of the park with a 395-foot home run and an exit velocity of 112.3 mph.
New York’s onslaught continued in the fifth inning when Berrios walked Ben Rortvedt, intentionally walked Judge, and walked Gleyber Torres before Stanton’s sharply hit line drive to left field added two more runs for the Yankees, stretching their lead to 4-0.
Aaron Judge was not finished tormenting Toronto’s pitching staff, as he launched his second two-run homer of the night in the seventh inning. This homer traveled 424 feet with an exit velocity of 112.7 mph and scored Oswald Peraza, solidifying a commanding 6-0 lead for New York.
This multi-homer game marked the seventh such achievement for Judge this season.
Beyond the action on the field, it was a night of cross-sport camaraderie, with Toronto Maple Leafs stars, including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Morgan Rielly, taking batting practice with the Blue Jays. Toronto Raptors’ first-round draft pick, Gradey Dick, also had the honor of throwing out the opening pitch.
The Blue Jays made some strategic changes to their lineup, with designated hitter Brandon Belt occupying the clean-up spot. Cavan Biggio shifted to fifth in the order, while Matt Chapman dropped to seventh.
In the upcoming finale of the three-game series against New York, Chris Bassitt is scheduled to start for Toronto, with Luke Weaver taking the mound for the Yankees. The outcome of this critical series will significantly impact the playoff picture in the American League.