TORONTO — Nearly a week’s worth of frustration erupted from the Yankees’ batting lineup in the top of the sixth inning Friday night.
And they didn’t stop there.
The Yankees stormed back with a six-run sixth inning to take a lead and then rallied for seven in the ninth to beat the Blue Jays 16-5 at Rogers Centre, ending a season-high four-game losing streak.
The Yankees (53-31) used a much-needed burst of play from their full lineup to win for the third time in their last 12 games and bring the series back to a tie heading into the weekend.
Every starter recorded at least one hit, six of them had multiple hits, and the Yankees totaled 18 hits.
The Blue Jays (37-44) went from a 1-1 tie to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth, thanks in part to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. breaking up a double play that infuriated Marcus Stroman.
Right-hander Gleyber Torres appeared upset because a throw to first base was too late on what should have been a tough double-killing, and the winning run came on a play from third base.
But in the top of the sixth, the Yankees fought back.
No. 9 hitter and designated hitter Jamai Jones had three hits and singled to lead off the inning before Anthony Volpe delivered a perfect bunt.
Juan Soto then went in for a 3-0 lead against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, smashing a fastball into the right-field stands to put the Yankees up 4-3, their first lead since Saturday.
That forced Kikuchi out of the game, and the Yankees then launched a furious attack against right-handed relief pitcher Nate Pearson.
Aaron Judge singled with a bullet-like hit off the left field fence, and then J.D. Davis hit his first hit as a Yankee with a double up the middle to make the score 5-3.
Torres, who had missed the previous two games to “reset” and was 2-for-31 at-bats in the inning, hit a two-run homer on a fastball inside to extend the lead to 7-3.
The Blue Jays closed the gap to 7-5 on home runs from Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Guerrero, but the Yankees made some headway late in the game.
Alex Verdugo, who entered the game in the eighth inning, was 4-for-41 at-bats and hit a double with one RBI, and DJ LeMahieu also hit his first extra base hit of the season and added another double with one RBI to make the score 9-5.
For the second straight night and third time in their last four games, the Yankees lost a lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Stroman walked leadoff hitter Bo Bichette, which led to consecutive infield hits by Justin Turner and George Springer to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead two outs later.
The Yankees tied the game in the fourth inning thanks to some great baserunning from Judge and Soto.
With Judge on first and Soto on second, there was one out when Davis hit a chop to second baseman Spencer Horowitz.
Judge stopped and took several steps back toward first base, at which point Horowitz threw to first base to get Davis out.
Guerrero then got Judge to run halfway to second base, allowing Soto to run toward home plate and dive safely before the throw.
