TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of eliminating the New York Yankees from the American League Division Series, their strategic pitching plan yielding flawless results thus far.
The club’s decision to start rookie Trey Yesavage at home in Game 2 and save seasoned veteran Shane Bieber for Game 3 in New York has paid off handsomely, with Toronto taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series after a 13-7 victory on Sunday.
Yesavage (1-0), making just his fourth major league start, delivered a spectacular performance. The right-hander recorded 10 strikeouts in the first four innings—matching an MLB postseason record for that span—and finished with 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 hitless innings. He allowed only one walk and one runner on an error, setting new Blue Jays postseason records for most strikeouts and longest no-hit bid.
“I was thinking about the comment I made the other day, that I’m built for this,” said Yesavage, who began the season in Class A. “I thought… I’d better back this up.” The 22-year-old ascended through four minor league levels this year before his major league debut on September 15.
Toronto’s offense provided overwhelming support, punishing Yankees pitching for the second consecutive game after a 10-1 win in the opener. Their 23 total runs set a new major league record for the first two games of a postseason series.
Daulton Varsho led the charge, homering twice, adding two doubles, scoring four runs, and driving in four. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contributed three hits, including the first postseason grand slam in franchise history. Ernie Clement added a two-run homer and three RBIs, while George Springer chipped in with a solo shot.
Cody Bellinger’s two-run homer accounted for three of New York’s RBIs.
The series now shifts to Yankee Stadium for Game 3 on Tuesday, where New York left-hander Carlos Rodon is scheduled to face Toronto’s Shane Bieber.
“We haven’t lost any confidence,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously, they’ve had our number and gotten the better of us so far this year, but I don’t think anyone in our room doesn’t feel like we can’t go out and beat them.”
Toronto’s scoring began in the second inning against Max Fried (0-1). Varsho doubled and advanced to third on an error by right fielder Aaron Judge, and Clement followed by driving the next pitch to left for his first career postseason home run.
The Blue Jays added three runs in the third. After a walk and a single, one run scored on a groundout before Varsho laced an RBI double and Clement an RBI single. They broke the game open in the fourth when Guerrero Jr. cleared the bases with his grand slam.
“He’s our guy,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said of Guerrero. “He’s our dude. I said I want to see him play free and loose but also be locked in. He’s pretty locked in.”
