The Yankees got on base against David Price on Friday night but could not plate a run off the man. Meanwhile, Ivan Nova had one inning that went screwy on him, but otherwise out-pitched his counterpart. Still, as the 8th inning began, the Yanks trailed 3-0. A very loud Toronto crowd enjoyed themselves and why shouldn’t not?
A run-scoring double to the gap by Chase Headley finally got Price out of there and then Carlos Beltran pinch-hit for Chris Young with runners on second and third, one out. Aaron Sanchez, 15 years Beltran’s junior replaced Price. The first two pitches he threw were clocked at 97 mph–high and out of the zone. Still, Beltran swung, waving at them both. Sanchez threw another high fastball, this one too high and too inside and then came back with yet another heater. This one was 97 mph too but it wasn’t out of the strike zone, it was right over the plate. And Beltran did not miss it.
His 3-run homer put the Yanks ahead by a run. Delin Betances, who threw a lot of pitches and didn’t look wonderful on Thursday in Cleveland, came on to pitch the 8th and was blazing–killer fastball, nasty breaking ball.
His partner Andrew Miller pitched the 9th and goddamn it was an adventure. With one man out, he walked Chris Colabello and then gave up a hard-hit single to Kevin Pillar. A wild pitch greeted Ben Revere putting the tying run at third and the winning run at second.
Miller composed himself and struck Revere out like he was supposed to but then had to contend with Troy Tulowitski. And you had to figure it could go either way. Seemed like everybody in the park was standing and when a team is on a wining streak like the Jays have been, well, I figured he’d get a base hit and win the game. I muted the TV and watched in silence, pacing back-and-forth in my living room.
The at-bat had plenty drama. The count went full, of course, all three balls came on fastballs that were outside. The rest were sliders, fast ones, slower ones, backdoor, inside and low, and Tulowitski kept fouling them off, one after the other. On the 12th pitch of the at bat he foul tipped a slider, bearing in on him but up. Brian McCann held onto the ball and the Yanks had the game.
A thriller goes the Yanks. Hot damn.
Final Score: Yanks 4, Jays 3.
Today, they’re back at it and the Jays can leapfrog right back into first.
Let’s hope for more good things.
Never mind the Toronto Turf:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
I hate the Toronto turf.
Lazy August weekend, grass doesn't even need to be mowed.
No big guys today. The firm of Wilson, Warren and Shreve will have to do the job.
Nice encore, Carlos!
Beli!
That was a great play but I have no idea how that ball carried as far as it did. Murphy was way out in front.
Damnit, Brett!
Btw, anyone know what's going on with Brett? He's really cooled off in the second half, no?
Waste of a triple
What a waste. That'll most likely haunt us later...
where was that, blue?!
whew.
bird had no idea what was going on. thankfully, murphy got it.
that walk was bollocks though. damn ump.
Nice catch, Carlos.
Tanaka looks great.
Our pitching has been so good.
Uh oh.
Ruh roh!
oh, fuck.
here we go...
Luck to escape that only tied up.
Well done, Tanaka. Way to get out of that. Very, very nice.
well, that coulda been worse.
i was right though - brett not coming through with rbj on 3rd and only 1 out is haunting us. we could still have a lead right now...
Yay, Teix!
TEX!!!
Untied! Thanks, Mark
We need base runners for the next one.
Oooh, a challenge
Rats
79 pitches.
Maybe he can go eight innings.
Tanaka is pitching tough today.
Goin gone.
Next.
Revere ridden out of town.
Next.
didi!
Sweet DiDi! Tanaka can come out for the 8th now!
Tulo, too slow.
See you chumps next inning.
Beli's getting hot at the right time.
LaTroy Hawkins threw his first Major League pitch the year his pen-mate Roberto Osuna was born.
Thanks again, Mark.
Big hit by Teix!
Man, nice hitting.
Hell yes.
Welcome to the show, Bird!
I didn't realize Bird was wearing Dave Winfield's number until today.
Yay!
Donaldson down.
Next.
Bautista batted away.
Next.
Damn. I knew I was pushing my luck.
Colabello: rung up!
Try again in the ninth, boys.
Tanaka-san!
Tanaka was dominant today. Win today and we're leaving Toronto in first.
Another run or three please...
Excellent.
We've had some very likable BUCs.
Hate to say it but nice play Drew.
Yeah, baby!
Beauty, Jacoby. Good timing.
Now send Ellsbury. Have him steal second and third. F Toronto.
Insurance!
Nobody up in the Yankee bullpen.
The Red Sox have 15 runs, for the second day in a row.
Think they had Warren warming...
C'mon Gardy. Swipe one.
He did!!
Whoa. I was going to say, Brett wasted a steal, but actually he advanced from second to third on the BB!
[58] Two!
He's back!
Tanaka for the ninth!
One down
That's 1
Two down
Dioner: goner.
Pillar: pipped.
Goins... goins...
Gone!
Ballgame over, Yankees win!
Three down!
Excellent job Masahiro
Wonderful win. He IS THE ace of the staff.
Wow.
What a fabulous start.
We need him to be an Ace and so he was.
Big, big, BIG win!
Hopefully we can get to their shitbag pitcher tomorrow and sweep them.