The mystique of pinstripes baffles Jays 4-0

Blue Jays: 0 Evil Empire: 4

Aaron Sanchez did very well against a stacked Yankees offense until he faced the lineup for a third time. He gave up two hits in the second, a one-out single to Edwin Encarnacion on a ball way below the plate, then a two-out single to Gleyber Torres, but kept the game scoreless. He also issued a two-out walk in the 3rd. He wasn’t missing bats, but he also wasn’t consistently falling behind hitters as he has so many times this season.

Gary Sanchez led off the 4th with a double that Lourdes Gurriel almost had another outfield assist on, but he was a split second too late. Sanchez issued another walk but got out of it.

Then came the 5th. Brett Gardner tripled on a ball into the corner of right field that Smoak couldn’t come up with, then Gardner scored on a groundout Biggio barely got the out on. Aaron Judge followed up with a single, then Aaron Hicks hit a double that bounced off Smoak’s glove to leave the Yankees a home run short of the cycle. A pitch that brushed Gary Sanchez’s jersey loaded the bases, and Encarnacion cashed in three of them on a double.

Perhaps Sanchez would benefit from an opener.

Brett Gardner led off the 6th facing Sam Gaviglio with another double that really should have been a single Biggio couldn’t field, then Gardner advanced to third on a bad pick off throw from Danny Jansen. The Yankees initially were given a fifth run when Gardner scored on an infield single, but the play at first was overturned and it became a 3rd out.

Gary Sanchez hit Danny Jansen in the helmet with his backswing in the 7th. Jansen stayed in the game, then fired a strike on the next pitch to second to catch Hicks, who had singled, stealing.

Justin Shafer gave up a lone double in the 8th.

Domingo German had all of his stuff working early on, consistently throwing breaking balls with two strikes effectively. Sogard saved us from starting off the second half in a no-hit narrative when he led off with a single, then advanced to 2nd on wild pitch on a poor block by Sanchez, but Galvis, Gurriel and Biggio couldn’t score him. German retired the next 15 after Sogard in a row.

Danny Jansen broke up the consecutive out streak with a single to lead off the 6th, then Sogard singled again, but they were both stranded.

Once German was out of the game, Biggio singled off new reliever Tommy Kahnle. Guerrero singled Biggio to third, but Guerrero ran into an out at second trying to stretch his single into a double. Guerrero looked like he would be out by a fair bit, however the play looked replay worthy, and Montoyo didn’t use his challenge. Smoak and Grichuk both made quick outs to Snuff(y Stirnweiss) the rally.

Freddy Galvis had a lone single in the last two innings. At least Lourdes Gurriel Jr’s hair was a very bright spot in the evening.

Jays of the Day: None, but let’s give one to Sogard for his two singles and the bullpen for three scoreless innings. Credit for the recap title goes to BOTSO.

Blew Jays: Sanchez (-.131), and Gurriel Jr (-.101)

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Next up: Clayton Richard will take on old friend JA Happ at 1:00pm ET.