Blue Jays edge closer to division-leading Yankees to begin crucial four-game set

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From the moment Max Scherzer made his way to the mound to begin his third start of the season, an air of anticipation was palpable inside the closed Rogers Centre roof.

From the moment Yankees superstar Aaron Judge stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning, it was obvious this was not your garden-variety Monday night matchup between two AL East rivals.

A sellout crowd of 40,619 witnessed a tense 5-4 Blue Jays victory in as close to a post-season environment as one can with the season barely into its second half.

With the Jays closing to within two games of the Yankees with the win, Canada Day should be even more electric, as perhaps will the final two games of this all-important — at least for the Jays — four-game series.

Scherzer twice struck out Judge looking in an outing that lasted five innings and 71 pitches. It was marred only by a two-run homer to Jazz Chisholm in the fourth inning, which came right after his second Judge punchout and pushed the Yankees into a 2-0 lead.

Scherzer wound up striking out seven Yankees, while issuing zero walks and yielding only the two runs.

The game was ultimately decided in the sixth inning when the home side pushed across four runs to erase a 3-1 deficit, capped by a rocket shot that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sent down the third-base line that scored two.

Bo Bichette, Toronto’s leadoff hitter, was a late scratch due to knee discomfort, while George Springer exited in the sixth inning with an undisclosed injury following an awkward slide into third. New York, meanwhile, also lost its leadoff hitter, Trent Grisham (hamstring tightness), during the game.

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Yankees starter Carlos Rodon took a 9-5 record and a 2.92 ERA into the night and was charged with two earned runs during his five-inning outing.

The Canada Day pitching matchup will feature Kevin Gausman and Max Fried, a tantalizing duel that is sure to add even more spice to the occasion, which is already dripping in nationalism and ceremony.

In terms of baseball entertainment, the series opener was quite appealing, made even more memorable because it was the Yankees providing the opposition and the sheer number of fans in attendance.

After Cody Bellinger went yard off Mason Fluharty to begin the eighth inning, cutting the Jays lead to 5-4, the Yankees had the tying and go-ahead runners on with one out. But ex-Yankee Chad Green preserved the lead thanks to a couple of long running catches by centre fielder Myles Straw.

Jays closer Jeff Hoffman entered the game to start the ninth inning and, after retiring the first two batters, the crowd rose to its feet and reacted to every pitch he threw as the atmosphere reached a level not previously felt this season.

Hoffman gave up a two-out single and the Yankees had the tying run on base and up stepped the ever-dangerous Bellinger. Hoffman went ahead on the count at 0-2 before coaxing Bellinger to fly out to right for the game’s final out.

From start to finish, Monday’s game was one of the best of the season and by far the best atmosphere the Jays have played in this season.