On the brink of a sweep, Yankees and Aaron Judge pull off late magic vs. Blue Jays
TORONTO – This week had the look of a market correction, a possible natural recession from the Yankees’ hot start.
Could it simply be defined as a hard-luck stretch, or just a warning sign that navigating through the AL East remains a difficult task through September?
Whatever one’s interpretation, the Yankees had packed for this road trip confidently in first place but nearly exited Rogers Centre late Wednesday afternoon on a four-game losing streak.
That was all prevented by another dose of late magic, and a series-saving ninth inning hit by Aaron Judge.
After striking out three times Wednesday and rapping into a double play, Judge’s go-ahead, two-run single with two outs sent the Yankees to a surprising 6-4 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Anatomy of a Yankees comeback win
With the roof closed again on a rainy day downtown, the Yankees (13-6) were three outs away from being swept in a three-game set and moving into second place behind the defending AL East champion Baltimore Orioles (12-6).
Down 4-2 in the ninth, Giancarlo Stanton crushed leadoff homer and the Yanks put runners at second and third against Erik Swanson on a Gleyber Torres (1-for-4, 3 Ks) single and an Alex Verdugo double.
Pinch-hitting with one out, Jose Trevino lashed a game-tying RBI single off lefty Tim Mayza, who then retired Anthony Volpe on a foul out with runners at the corners.
On base all five times Wednesday, Juan Soto worked a full-count walk against Mayza, who then ran the count full on Judge.
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Mayza, the lefty who gave up Judge’s AL record-tying 61st homer of the 2022 season, tried to bury a slider but Judge pulled it just inside the third base line for his go-ahead hit.
Before the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone talked about his club’s “purpose, competitiveness, a feeling that we’re not out of it,’’ even through a difficult last few days.
“It’s been a common theme, whether we’ve won a game or lost. I like the intent and the focus of the group.’’
Outlasting the Blue Jays to salvage the road trip
Meanwhile, Toronto (10-9) had won four straight games before losing Wednesday, with Volpe making a hit-saving play at shortstop with a runner at second base to end it.
After winning a day-night doubleheader Saturday at Cleveland, the Yankees had largely been out-pitched and outplayed since Sunday’s 10th inning at Progressive Field, in an 8-7 loss to the Guardians.
Toronto’s starters this week – Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi and Kevin Gausman – held the Yankees to three runs across 17.1 innings.
Gausman lugged an 11.57 ERA into his fourth start of the year, Wednesday, having already been knocked out by the Yankees in the second inning on April 6 in the Bronx.
This time, Gausman lasted five innings, yielded one run and generally pitched out of trouble.
And Judge’s season batting average was down to .171 through 19 games before his go-ahead hit in the ninth.
Judge batted four times with Soto on base, and Soto went 3-for-3 with two walks, an RBI double and a solo home run in the eighth.
Before his big base hit, Judge was 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts in the Toronto series and was 5-for-37 (.135) in 10 games with 12 strikeouts and three RBI.
Marcus Stroman keeps the Yankees in it
Facing his original MLB club for the second time as a Yankee, Marcus Stroman lasted six innings and paid for one mistake.
That was a 1-2 sinker that hung in the strike zone for Daulton Varsho, who crushed it for a two-run shot in the second inning, the first of his two homers Wednesday.
Stroman had tossed six shutout innings in a no-decision against Toronto on April 5, and exited in Wednesday’s sixth inning, with a 2-1 deficit.
By this weekend, DJ LeMahieu (non-displace fracture, right foot) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment and could return to the Yankees lineup by April 26.
When he does, will he displace Anthony Volpe in the leadoff spot or Oswaldo Cabrera at third base?
Boone suggested Tuesday that he’s disinclined to move Volpe from the top spot.
“The good thing with DJ, I feel like he can fit a lot of different spots in the order,’’ said Boone.
Cabrera continues to be one of the team’s most consistent hitters since Opening Day, with double and a single on Wednesday, and a tremendous defensive play at third base.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees and Aaron Judge rally in ninth to stun Blue Jays
