The Toronto Blue Jays took a 2-0 series lead over the New York Yankees with a 13-7 win at home. Numerous players had the biggest and best game of their lives, which was overshadowed by an even more unlikely story. That distinction goes to a young man with only 14 innings pitched in the major leagues for his career.
Multiple Blue Jays had a night for the ages, and certainly earned a mention in this story. DH George Springer, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., center fielder Daulton Varsho, and third baseman Ernie Clement all registered a home run. There were only two players who didn’t reach base, which included a grand slam from the face of the franchise.
Toronto also outshone the Yankees defensively, including numerous elite plays in the outfield. Myles Straw and Daulton Varsho showcased highlight-reel sliding catches, demonstrating why the Blue Jays ranked fourth in MLB team defensive runs saved this season, according to the Fielding Bible. No team in baseball has more runs saved at the center field position.
Somehow, with all of that offense and many high-level defensive plays, the headline belongs to starting pitcher Trey Yesavage. With only three major league games under his belt, he dominated and embarrassed the best slugging team of the regular season. Pulled from the game just so they could use him again soon, his line included 5.1 innings pitched, with no earned runs and 11 strikeouts.
MLB reports those 11 K’s are a franchise postseason record, surpassing the legendary names of David Price, Juan Guzman, and Dave Stieb. That record included striking out the side in his first career postseason inning, and later on striking out six in a row. ESPN reports on postgame comments.
“I was just doing what I feel comfortable doing, throwing splits late in the count,” Yesavage said. “It just so happens they were swinging and missing at a bunch of them and chasing them down.”
Toronto needs to win just one of the next three games to advance to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2016, circa the Jose Bautista era. MLB lists the probable pitchers for Game Three as Shane Bieber versus Carlos Rodón. Can the Canadian team hammer the left-hander on the road, or will the Yankees find a way to extend the series?
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