Blue Jays hold off Yankees, 5-4

Field Level Media|published: Tue 16th April, 22:40 2024

Apr 16, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (16) pitches to the New York Yankees during the first inning at Rogers Centre. credits: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi struck out nine in six innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting New York Yankees 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a two-run single while going 2-for-3 with two walks for the Blue Jays, who have won four in a row.

By dropping the first two contests of this three-game series, the Yankees have lost three straight for the first time this season.

Kikuchi (1-1) yielded one run, four hits and one walk.

Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-1) allowed three runs, five hits and four walks in four innings. He fanned five.

New York scored once in the second when Giancarlo Stanton singled and later scored from second on Jose Trevino's single to left. Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, playing his first game of the season after returning from a broken wrist, dropped the throw that beat the lumbering Stanton.

Justin Turner's bases-loaded sacrifice fly tied the score in the third.

Guerrero had his two-run single in the fourth, bringing in Ernie Clement and Daulton Varsho to put Toronto up 3-1.

Kikuchi retired nine batters in a row before Oswaldo Cabrera doubled in the fifth. Anthony Volpe then struck out to end the inning.

Luke Weaver allowed Clement's leadoff double in the sixth. After a successful challenge by the Blue Jays, Clement was ruled safe following Gleyber Torres' throw to third on Isiah Kiner-Falefa's grounder to second.

Clement soon scored on Torres' error during Kiner-Falefa's steal of second. Nick Burdi, who replaced Weaver, walked George Springer shortly before Bo Bichette hit an RBI single to lift Toronto to a 5-1 advantage.

Torres opened the seventh with a walk, took third on Alex Verdugo's double and scored on Trevino's groundout. Cabrera hit a sacrifice fly, cutting the Blue Jays' lead to 5-3.

Yimi Garcia pitched a perfect eighth for Toronto.

Jordan Romano gave up a run and a hit in the ninth but still locked down the save in his season debut. He was activated from the 15-day injured list earlier Tuesday.

—Field Level Media

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