NEW YORK — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was already the face of the rising Toronto Blue Jays, also looked like a true Maple Leaf Wednesday night.
Guerrero shook off a bloody laceration on his right ring finger and hit three home runs against the rival Yankees, including two from ace Gerrit Cole, in Toronto’s 6-4 win.
“Hit from another world,” New York manager Aaron Boone said of Guerrero. “One of the best hitters in the world.”
The American League MVP runner-up scored a home hit against Cole in the first inning, accidentally got his hand hit on a play at first base in the second inning, and then hammered a line drive homer on Cole in the third to leave Toronto at 3 : 0 to lead. He doubled for Cole in the sixth – prompting the pitcher to put on a show for the 23-year-old by tipping his cap – and then launched a 443-foot leadoff homer on Jonathan Loaisiga in the eighth for a 5-3 lead .
“Have you seen his night?” Cole said in his post-game availability when asked about the top of the cap. “If you had a hat, you would tip too.”
It was the second three-homer game of Guerrero’s career, setting a career-high set against Washington on April 27.
The Blue Jays took two out of three from the Yankees with Thursday’s series finale. New York’s new lineup balked offensively during this season-opening home stand, even drawing some boos from Yankees fans.
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Guerrero appeared to have to walk in the second inning when his bare throwing hand was accidentally pricked by baserunner Aaron Hicks. Guerrero had to reach across his body after infielder Bo Bichette’s throw and placed his right hand behind first basebag for balance. Hicks stomped on it and ran an infield single.
Guerrero, 23, immediately started waving his hand, then was walking towards Toronto’s dugout when blood dripped onto his uniform and the lawn.
In a display of toughness sure to please hockey-mad Toronto fans, Guerrero had a coaching tape tied around his wound and was jogging back to first base a few minutes later.
With a bloody stain on the right thigh of his pants, he hit again in the top of the third, converting Cole’s 98-mile fastball into a two-run, 427-foot homer and a 3-0 lead for the Blue Jays.
Toronto coach Charlie Montoyo said after the win that Guerrero just didn’t want to get out of the game, and neither did the team, of course. Montoyo also credited the Toronto training staff for preparing the first baseman for the return in his media availability.
“Besides Vladdy, the coaches were the MVPs tonight,” said Montoyo
Guerrero received two stitches after the game but said his hand felt fine, although he expected pain to develop on Thursday.
“It’s not that bad,” he said.
Guerrero used his right hand for high-fives with base coaches Mark Budzinski and Luis Rivera as he circled the bases, then clapped his hands vigorously before touching home plate.
Guerrero’s first homer was robbed almost halfway by Hicks, who vaulted over the wall and briefly had the ball in his glove. It fell out when Hicks hit the wall, bounced off something beyond the home run barrier, and got back into the game. A retest confirmed the ball went out.
“I wish it was against someone else,” New York outfielder Aaron Judge said, “so I could have seen it on TV and not seen it live.”
Guerrero has four homers in six games this season after leading the majors with 48 last season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.