After a solid performance in the Subway Series finale against the Mets on Sunday, David Bednar faced a different challenge against the Blue Jays on Monday. Tasked with closing out a two-run lead in the ninth, the Yankees closer almost faced yet another setback but ultimately secured a 7-6 victory.
Things started off shaky when Ernie Clement drew a walk. Then, Myles Stroh’s pinch hitter, Jesus Sanchez, hit a double down the right field line, narrowing the lead to one run. Bednar managed to strike out Brandon Valenzuela, but after Johendrik Piñango also walked, he had to contend with George Springer, who he struck out, followed by a ground out from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that ended the game.
This win was particularly significant for the Yankees, preventing them from dropping their season-high lead in the AL East to four games and avoiding a loss in eight out of their last ten matchups.
With two-run homers from Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the seventh inning, the Yankees’ offense finally made an impression against Toronto’s bullpen.
First-place Tampa Bay had arrived at the stadium after the Blue Jays, leading to a crucial homestand against division rivals. Both of those homers were quite dramatic—Bellinger’s shot hit the top of the right-center field wall before bouncing into the Yankees’ bullpen, and Chisholm’s flew down the left field line to hit the foul pole, marking his fifth homer of the season.
Starting off strong, the Yankees saw Paul Goldschmidt hit his third leadoff home run of the season against pitcher Patrick Corbin. Following that, Ben Rice doubled into left field, setting them up for potential scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, Corbin managed to get through without further damage by retiring Aaron Judge, Bellinger, and Amed Rosario.
In an agonizing second inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, the Yankees missed their chance as Rice grounded out. This inability to capitalize on opportunities hurt them significantly.
Ryan Weathers, who had thrown a no-hitter in his previous outing, initially retired nine of the first ten batters he faced. But then, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto both hit singles, leading to trouble for the Yankees.
Things escalated when Weathers hit two consecutive batters, and Clement belted a changeup over the left wall for three runs, putting the Yankees down 3-1. They managed to respond, however, with Anthony Volpe hitting his second single of the game to help score a run. Volpe managed to steal third base before JC Escala hit a liner, and despite the throw coming in time, Volpe executed a slick slide to avoid the tag.
Max Schumann subsequently walked, stole second, and advanced to third on Valenzuela’s second error of the night. He crossed the plate on Goldschmidt’s double, tying the game at 3-3.
Toronto regained the lead with a two-out homer from Weathers, followed by a solo shot from Springer in the fifth. Weathers allowed another run in the sixth, giving up singles to Lenin Sosa and Dalton Varsho, leading to Sosa scoring on a forceout.
But the Yankees wouldn’t back down easily; in the seventh, they rallied with a single from Judge followed by those crucial homers from Bellinger and Chisholm.
