The Toronto Blue Jays have been solid of late and showed little inspiration in the third game of their series against the Yankees on Thursday night in New York, falling 5-3.
The Queen City team’s five-game winning streak came to an end after it defeated the Boston Red Sox this week and posted convincing 7-1 and 6-1 wins over the Bronx Bombers.
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For the second consecutive season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was forced to miss the game due to right knee discomfort. However, the Dominican came to the plate in the ninth inning with the bases loaded.
However, he was only able to score a single goal, which Kevin Kiermaier still scored. Guerrero Jr. barely reached first base to avoid being thrown into a double play that would have ended the game. On the next play, a poor throw by second baseman Gleyber Torres allowed the Jays another run, but the next man at the plate, Spencer Horwitz, was beaten to first after a weak hit.
Jose Berrios (11-11) didn’t have a great game at the plate, allowing seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Jake Bauers hit the long ball at his own expense in the first inning, putting three scores into the game.
Gerrit Cole (14-4) was much more convincing with two sure hits allowed and nine strikeouts in eight innings. Reliever Clay Holmes finished the job in the ninth.
Toronto (85-68) is just half a game ahead in the American League draft rankings. Their pursuers, the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers, have the same record of 84-68 and will begin an important series of three meetings against each other on Friday.
The Jays face the Tampa Bay Rays (94-60) in three games starting Friday.