Blue Jays take full advantage of self-imploding Yankees to win season series

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Yes, this was an epic act of self-immolation by the error-prone New York Yankees.

But the Blue Jays would gladly take it — surviving their own error in Judgement (more on that later) — to take a breathtaking three-game set, and the season series, with the Bronx Bombers following Wednesday night’s 8-4 victory at another sold-out Rogers Centre.

The teams will meet again in the Bronx for a three-game series in early September.

Following are three takeaways on a night in which the Yankees outhomered the Jays 3-1, but also committed four of the game’s five errors and saw Toronto regain its four-game lead atop the AL East.

PITCHING DUEL

The rubber match featured a sterling battle of arms, pitting Chris Bassitt and Max Fried, a righty-versus-lefty matchup with Bassitt clearly emerging as the game’s best.

One key difference between the two was the way their teams played behind them.

The Jays’ defensive gems began when Bassitt faced leadoff hitter Trent Grisham, who was robbed of a hit when Leo Jimenez made a great play at second base.

After throwing three perfect innings to start, Fried was his own worst enemy in the fifth when he fielded Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s chopper up the third base line and tried to get Davis Schneider at home. The throw was slightly off its mark and when catcher J.C. Escarra couldn’t corral the ball, George Springer raced in behind Schneider for a second run.

After the Fried error, then another by outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., right fielder Cody Bellinger failed to locate Clement’s routine fly ball with one out in the sixth inning that resulted in a triple and ultimately the Jays retaking the lead, 6-4.

Bassitt was brilliant in his 7.1-inning outing, although all three of the hits he yielded were homers.

One of them, Aaron Judge’s 37th in the sixth, seemed unnecessary.

Man on third, one out with first base open, the Jays, up 4-2, decided to pitch to Judge, who has been routinely issued intentional walks.
This time, the Jays decided to pitch to Yankees’ mega-star, who sent a ball into straight-away centre for a two-run blast that tied the game.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ALL

As has become custom for these Jays, there were several heroes who emerged.

After Vladdy had driven in Springer in the fourth to tie the game 1-1, Clement, who has been in a hitting funk of late, came up with the bases loaded and two out and promptly lashed a single to centre to put the Jays ahead 2-1.

Myles Straw did his part, too, following up the Clement misplayed triple with a double down the left field line to plate what turned out to be the winning run.

Bo Bichette hit his 13th homer in the seventh to complete the scoring but the Yankees threatened in the eighth when lefty Justin Bruihl — in for Bassitt — gave up back-to-back singles with Judge striding to the plate.

The young southpaw got ahead of Judge 1-2, then threw him a sinker that the Yankees star grounded into an inning-ending double play.

THE LONG BALL

When it comes to home runs, the Jays are not in the same category of the Yankees, who led the majors with 161 long balls heading into the game. The Jays ranked 20th with 105.

A contrast in style best illustrates the two AL East rivals. The Jays have hit homers in big moments, but for the most part their offensive DNA consists of striking out far less than every other major-league team and putting the ball in play more often.

The Yankees, meanwhile, appear to be reliant on the long ball to produce runs.

Need proof? The Yankees out-homered the Jays 7-1 in the series but lost two of three. They scored 10 total runs in three games — every one of them coming on the long ball.

Up next

To say the Detroit Tigers have not been playing well would be to state the obvious. They return to Comerica Park with their collective tail between their legs having been swept in Pittsburgh in a three-game series that saw the Pirates outscore the Tigers 17-6 … The first game of a four-game set will feature LHP Eric Lauer getting the start for the Jays, while RHP Reese Olson will be on the mound for the Tigers … Thursday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.