In a riveting display of sheer dominance, the New York Yankees, led by Aaron Judge’s two two-run home runs, decisively overwhelmed the Blue Jays by a staggering 6-0 on Wednesday. The result left Toronto tantalizingly close, yet unattained, of securing their playoff spot.
Giancarlo Stanton also left an indelible mark on the game in the fifth inning, his two-run single substantially bolstering New York, who celebrated their third consecutive victory. An impressive record for the Yankees, ending the match at 81-77.
Not to be forgotten, Gerrit Cole (15-4) demonstrated a superior performance, potentially cementing his run for the prestigious Cy Young Award. Delivering a flawless, two-hit complete game shutout, Cole left no room for argument of his prowess. His astonishing records didn’t miss a single run or walk in his last start, drawing the season to a compelling close.
Despite a valiant effort by Jose Berrios, who achieved ten strikeouts and allowed just four runs on five hits over six intense innings, the night belonged to the Yankees. The shaky performance from relievers Trevor Richards, Genesis Cabrera, and Jay Jackson did little to aid Toronto in their quest for a playoff spot.
Even though Toronto hovers on the brink of claiming the American League’s second wild-card spot, hovering threats from the camps of the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners lurk in the shadows. The defeat puts them slightly ahead of Astros in the wild-card race and, to their advantage, 1 1/2 quarters ahead of Seattle.
Moving on to other league news, Cole currently leads the race for the Cy Young award as the most skilled pitcher in the American League, according to prominent online sportsbooks. His season statistics: an impressive earned-run average of 2.63, a pitch count of 209 innings, 222 strikeouts, and a league-leading 24 quality starts, will undoubtedly serve as a testament for his candidacy. Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman, however, trails behind, ranking fourth in the race to Cy Young’s title.
Despite this, Toronto’s Berrios put up a strong front, especially in Wednesday’s early innings, earning three strikeouts in the second innings itself however the spotlight soon shifted to Judge. The Yankees’ captain used the situation to his advantage, adding to his tally with the 36th home run of the season, recorded at an exit velocity of 112.3 m.p.h. New York, encouraged by Judge’s success, seized the opportunity to extend their lead in the fifth.
Whilst the seventh inning witnessed Judge continuing to exert pressure on Toronto, Berrios’s efforts resulted in a hit to Ben Rortvedt, a strategic move that left them four strikes ahead with a 4-0 score. Further adding to Toronto’s woes, Judge launched another two-run homer, taking his tally to seven multi-homer games this season.
As anticipation builds for the final match of the three-game series against the Yankees, Toronto is set to take the field with Chris Bassitt (15-8), with Yankees looking to Luke Weaver (3-5). Toronto’s defeat notwithstanding, sports stars from the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Raptors offered their support for the Blue Jays, enticing players and fans alike with their batting practice before the eventful game.
