:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47170140/usa-today-8793867.0.jpg)
You couldn't have drawn up a better start for the Blue Jays as they opened up a four game series with the second-place Yankees. Double. Home run. Strikeout. Double. Single. Home run. Six batters, five runs. If the Blue Jays struggled the last time they saw Luis Severino, there was no struggle this time around. It was the type of inning that should the Jays win the series, should they win the division you could put a star next to. (Knock on wood).
The only negative in this one is that the Yankees made it a little closer in the middle innings and John Gibbons had to use a little more high leverage guys. You don't exactly want to use LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe, but you *really* don't want to play games with this lead and give New York any momentum.
Perhaps the best sign for the Blue Jays besides the obvious win was the play of Russell Martin. He had two home runs including an eighth inning shot that turned a scary 9-5 game into an 11-5 sigh of relief. When Martin was struggling through August, it was getting concerning amid all the injury talk but a few extra days off and Martin's power coming back is the most welcome sign as we get into the stretch run.
David Price didn't have his greatest game tonight, but five strong innings throwing 96 pitches was big. The line wasn't mind blowing, but I have no problem with seven strikeouts, one walk and two runs allowed on six hits. Especially with Marcus Stroman, who for all intents and purposes is a question mark starting tomorrow on top of a double header. It would appear to be all hands on deck in the bullpen tomorrow.
Jays of the Day: Josh Donaldson (.130) hit his home run first which set the tone for the whole inning. Justin Smoak (.112) also had a home run in the first inning and added another hit. Honourable mention to Russell Martin for a two home run game. I'm also giving one to Brett Cecil, Aaron Loup and Mark Lowe for shutting the door in the bullpen.
No suckage today. Huge win. Let's play two tomorrow.