Guerrero's Homer Lifts Blue Jays, Deals Yankees 3rd Straight Loss
TORONTO (CBSNewYork/AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Zack Britton in a five-run eighth inning, Randal Grichuk had a pair of homers and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Yankees 11-7 on Wednesday night and send New York to its first three-game losing streak since early April.
Former Yankees infielder Brandon Drury and Grichuk combined for back-to-back homers against Luis Cessa in the eighth. New York has lost the first two games of a three-game set, ending a streak of nine consecutive series wins. New York has not won 10 series in a row since 1954.
Toronto trailed 7-4 in the seventh but closed against Jonathan Holder on a two-run, two-out double by Teoscar Hernández, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Both runs were unearned because of a throwing error by shortstop Gleyber Torres on Guerrero's leadoff grounder.
A poor throw by Gio Urshela, one of two errors by the third baseman, led to an unearned run in the fifth.
AL East-leading New York had not lost three in a row since a season-high four-game skid from April 8-12.
James Paxton allowed four runs over 4 2/3 innings and 83 pitches in his second start back from the injured list. Adam Ottavino followed and Tommy Kahnle stranded the bases loaded in the sixth by striking out Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks, who did not make his season debut until May 15 because of a back injury, was down briefly after leaping into the wall in an unsuccessful attempt to catch one of the eighth-inning home runs.
Guerrero's home run off on a sinker by Britton (2-1) was the seventh for the 20-year-old, who debuted April 26.
Grichuk has three home runs in the series, raising his season total to 12. He had a two-run homer in the first off the Canadian-born Paxton.
Sam Gaviglio (4-1) pitched two hitless innings, and the Blue Jays won three straight home games for the first time this season.
DJ LeMahieu hit a three-run homer and had four RBIs, and Gary Sánchez had a solo drive for New York. Sánchez has 19 homers, one more than the previous mark for Yankees catchers before the All-Star break, set by Yogi Berra in 1956.
Another pitching meltdown spoiled more heroics at the plate by LeMahieu, who broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth with his home run. The infielder is proving to be the team's best free agent addition from the winter. LeMahieu is now hitting .471 with runners in scoring position this year, the highest average in the major leagues.
Making his first start in Toronto since pitching a no-hitter for Seattle last May 8, Paxton allowed four runs — three earned — four hits and three walks. It was the third straight poor start by a Yankees starting pitcher as rumors continue to swirl around New York and free agent Dallas Keuchel.
Blue Jays right-hander Trent Thornton allowed four runs and five hits in five innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
RHP Dellin Betances (right shoulder) felt good after facing hitters for the first time in almost three months, throwing 20 pitches to minor leaguers in a simulated game. He's expected to throw a bullpen session Friday before facing hitters again.
OF Giancarlo Stanton (left biceps strain, left shoulder) went 1-for-5 in an extended spring training game. Stanton did not run out of the batter's box.
Boone said OF Aaron Judge (strained left oblique) could return by the time the Yankees face the Boston Red Sox in London on June 29 and 30.
Boone said INF Troy Tulowitzki has returned home for a "couple of days" as he attempts to recover from a strained left calf.
UP NEXT:
LHP J.A. Happ (50-3, 4.83) is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three career games against the Blue Jays.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
