The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays met up in Dunedin, Florida, at TD Stadium for a three-game set rubber game. The New York Yankees won the first game and the Jays the second. On the mound for the Yankees was Corey Kluber and for the Jays Ross Stripling. Both pitchers had rough starts to their seasons. Kluber’s ERA is 5.68, and Striplings 7.56. Both pitchers were hoping for a win, especially Kluber, as the Yankees were at the AL East’s bottom. It was 82 degrees and bright and sunny for the start of the game.
The New York Yankees put together a rather unusual lineup that was without DJ LeMahieu and Giancarlo Stanton. Possibly this was done to shake things up a bit and get the guys hitting. Aaron Hicks led off the first-facing TJ Zeuch, a last-minute replacement. Hicks flew out to far center. Aaron Judge homered to left to give the Yankees the early lead. Gardner ground out to first. In the game, Gary Sanchez struck out, but the Yankees picked up a game-leading run. Corey Kluber faced Marcus Semiem at the bottom of the inning; he struck out. Bo Bichette singled. Vlad Guerrero Jr. at the plate Bichette stole second base. Vlad ground out to third, but Bichette went to third. Randal Grichuk singled. Cavan Biggio struck out to get Kluber out of trouble. Kluber did throw 23 pitches in the inning. Yankees 1 and Jays 0.
Gleyber Torres led off the second inning and walked. Jay Bruce hit into a double play. Gio Urshela flew out to left center. At the bottom, Gurriel Jr. ground out. Tellez singled. Kirk homered to left, driving in two runs. Palacios ground out. Semien struck out, but the Jays picked up two runs. Jays 2 Yankees 1.
Odor led off the third by flying out to left. Higashioka hit the ball hard, but it was caught right at the left-field wall. Hicks ground out. At the bottom, Bichette homered to right-center. Guerrero Jr. singled up the middle. Grichuk flew out to Judge in right. Biggio walked. Gurriel Jr. ground out, and Tellez struck out to end the inning. Jays 3 Yankees 1.
Aaron Judge got his second home run a monster shot to center as the Yankees closed the gap. Brett Gardner walked. Sanchez popped out to left. Torres doubled to the right-field wall. Bruce struck out. Urshela singled, driving in two runners for the Yankee lead in the game. Odor flew out to left, but the Yankees took the lead. Kirk led off the bottom, grounding out. Palacios was hit by a pitch, Kluber’s second. Semiem singled, and Palacios got to second on an error. Bichette hit into 4-6-3 double play ending the inning. Yankees 4 Jays 3.
With Trent Thornton on the mound, Higashioka ground out to third. Hicks ground out to second. Judge, with two homers in the game, ground out to Biggio to end the half. Jonathan Loaisiga took over for Kluber at the bottom. Guerrero Jr. lofted one to center for an out. Grichuk flew out to Judge. Biggio hit one past Judge; Biggio tried to make it into an inside-the-park home run but got caught into a run-down and was tagged out to end the inning. Yankees 4 Jays 3.
Gardner led off the sixth by flying out to center. Sanchez singled to center. Torres walked. Bruce hit into another double play. Lourds Gurriel Jr. led off the bottom of the inning by singling to Judge. Tellez singled to center. Kirk, with two on and no outs, got hit by a pitch loading the bases. Palacios singled, but they threw out Gurriel Jr. at the plate. Semien at the plate, Higgy had a passed ball allowing Tellez to go home and tied the game. Semien popped out to Gardner. Bichette ground out to short, but the Jays tied the game. Yankees 4 Jays 4.
Gio Urshela led off the seventh grounding out. Odor popped out to the infield. Higashioka struck out. At the bottom, Guerrero Jr. led off, hitting a base hit off Darren O’Day. Grichuk ground out to first, but Guerrero Jr. took second. Biggio struck out. Gurriel Jr. flew out to center, and O’Day had a quick inning. Score tied at 4.
At the top of the eighth, Aaron Hicks ground out. Judge singled to left. Gardner hit into the force as they get Judge out a second. Sanchez popped out to foul territory in right ending the half. Tellez against Justin Wilson ground out. Kirk struck out swinging. Palacios singled up the middle. Semien flew out to Gardner. Tied at 4.
Wit Rafael Dolis on the mound, the Yankees tried to break the tie. Torres ground out to third. Bruce struck out. Urshela flew out to left to bring it too the bottom of the ninth. Bo Bichette hit a walk-off home run to win the game for the Blue Jays. Final score Blue Jays 5 New York Yankees 4. The winning pitcher was Rafael Dolis; the loser was Chad Green.