Jays rally late to pull out a 3-2 win from the Yankees

Blue Jays 3 Yankees 2

Things did not look good early. Thomas Pannone allowed a solo home run to lead off the game, followed by a walk and a single to put runners on the corners with none out. We’ve seen this story before at Yankee Stadium (all the way back on Friday night in fact), and one had to wonder if the wheels were about to come off the wagon in spectacular style for the rookie left-hander.

Alas, it was not to be. From that point onwards, Pannone faced the minimum until the 7th inning. The damage was limited to a sac fly to make it 2-0, and the only blemish in that stretch was an infield single that was promptly doubled off on a line drive double play in the 4th. Pannone did get into a bit of a jam in the 7th, giving up a walk and a single with one out but worked out of it without any runs scoring as his pitch count crossed 100.

In all, his outing amounted to 2 runs on 4 hits over the 7 innings, with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. A pretty darn good outing against that lineup in that park.

Unfortunately, the Jays were doing precious little offensively over this stretch, The bottom of the lineup did get to Lance Lynn for a run in the 3rd inning, as Richard Urena led off with a single and scored on a double from Reese McGuire. Other than that, a couple walks and a single were scattered by Lynn and David Robertson.

It was a different story as Dellin Betances came in for the 8th. McGuire catalyzed it was a leadoff single, and moved to 3rd as the tying run when Justin Smoak poked a grouner through to right. Rowdy Tellez pinch hit, and came through by flaring a double to right himself to cash the runner and send pinch runner Kevin Pillar to third as the go ahead run. The last of the Triple-Rs came through as Randal Grichuk lined a double to right.

Unfortunately, there was no insurance to come with runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out, as Yangervis Solarte bounced one back to the mound. But they had the lead. And who would protect that lead with Pannone’s day done and in line for the win? Why Mark Leiter Jr. of course, the totally obvious choice.

Leiter got the first two batters, before Giancarlo Stanton lined a ball to left. Teoscar Hernandez tried to barehand it, presumably to throw to first, but missed it and Stanton ended up on third. It’s currently down as a single and two base error, but I think Stanton would have had second anyway (hence why Teoscar rushed). But Leiter got Aaron Hicks swinging to quell the threat.

Ken Giles came in for the 9th and continued to look very of late, securing his 22nd save in 22 opportunities and surely an increasing large payday in arbitration. After a one out single, he blew the last two batters away with upper 90s fastball and wipeout sliders.

Jays of the Day: Pannone (+0.134), Giles (+0.211), Leiter (+0.147) on the pitching side. The Triple-Rs of Rowdy (+0.153), Randal (+0.146) and Reese (+0.136) on the hitting side.

With this win the Jays improve (?) to 6-13 against the Yankees in 2018, and to boot hit double digit wins against the Yankees and Red Sox combined (10-28). Yay!

Suckage: Billy McKinney (-0.190), Solarte (-0.189), Teoscar (-0.131 plus the error)

Tomorrow, the Jays are in Baltimore for a third straight season ending series against an AL East rival, with Ryan Borucki scheduled to start pending weather against TBA.