The New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4–3 on Sunday afternoon, ending a long rain delay and winning the series as they prepared to play the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
After giving up two earned runs in the second inning, Gerrit Cole turned in a fantastic effort that included 5.2 innings pitched, six hits, four strikeouts, and 91 pitches. Although Cole has had better days, it is obvious that he needs more time to settle into a routine. Though he is usually a perfect locator with the ball, he is still missing the strike zone and finding it difficult to put hitters in awkward circumstances.
The Yankees’ Offense Got The Job Done
Offensively, the Yankees recorded 10 hits and struck out six times. Torres and Juan Soto contributed four hits together, but it was struggling veteran DJ LeMahieu who secured the victory. LeMahieu had two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly to center in the sixth inning to tie the game and a single to center in the bottom of the 10th to drive in the winning run.
Despite a tough season, LeMahieu has had some significant performances recently. Over the last week, he’s hitting .286 with a .857 slugging rate and seven RBIs. His recent form has been a boost for the Yankees, but the team needs more consistent production from him, as his numbers have been inflated by a six-RBI game earlier in the week.
Walking Aaron Judge Works Well Apparently
Toronto once again employed the strategy of walking Aaron Judge, who reached base three times, recorded a hit, and struck out once. Judge is currently getting on base at over 45%, and over the past 30 days, he’s hitting .346 with a .518 OBP and 1.222 OPS. Judge is performing at an elite level, and the Yankees can’t afford to squander another MVP-caliber season from him.
Currently, the Yankees are tied for first place in the American League East with the Baltimore Orioles, who secured another win against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Both teams have won two games each, and it’s clear that Baltimore isn’t slowing down. The Yankees must match their production and consistently defeat weaker teams.
The Angels are one of the worst teams in baseball, and the Yankees’ August schedule is highly favorable. They will face Texas, Chicago, and Detroit, giving them four consecutive series that they should be able to win without much difficulty.
