The New York Yankees have begun to slowly rebound from a Subway Series collapse against the Mets in which reliever David Bednar gave up a game-tying three-run shot to Tyrone Taylor. Lefty Tim Hill proceeded to surrender the winning run to rookie Carson Benge.
The misfortune looked as if it would continue into their next homestand against the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan Weathers gave up a deep three-run home run to Ernie Clement, which put the Blue Jays ahead by three. The offense responded with two runs, only for Weathers to give up a solo home run to George Springer in the fifth.
Weathers began the sixth by giving up two hits, then allowing Clement to score Toronto’s fifth run. But as the ballgame began to slip away, the Yankees’ bullpen stepped up.
Reliever Paul Blackburn earned a strikeout, as the Blue Jays hit into an inning-ending double play. A pair of two-run homers from Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chrisholm put the Bronx Bombers ahead by two runs.
In the eighth, righty Fernando Cruz buckled down to earn three consecutive strikeouts against the Blue Jays lineup. As the tide began to turn, Bednar was given a chance to seal the win in the ninth.
It didn’t start well for the former two-time All-Star, who walked Clement and gave up an RBI double to Toronto. But, he then struck out two batters, before forcing the final out against Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The second game of the series started similarly for the Yankees, with Will Warren surrendering three runs in the fourth. But Ryan McMahon led a response with a game-tying three-run home run.
Warren forced three outs in the fifth, while Ben Rice hit the go-ahead two-run shot in the bottom half of the inning. Hill kept the Blue Jays off the board in the sixth.
Righty Jake Bird cracked under the seventh inning pressure, leading to his removal and Brent Headrick finishing the seventh and eighth without giving up a run.
However, righty Camilo Doval allowed two Blue Jays to reach base in the ninth, as Guerrero hit a deep sacrifice fly to cut the Yankees’ lead down to one. Doval allowed another single to slip past him, but he forced the final out of the ballgame.
Over the past three games, the Yankees’ bullpen has shown signs of resilience, despite moments of frustration. Their next chance to improve will come in the third game of their series against the Blue Jays, where righty Cam Schlittler will start on the mound.
The 25-year-old has been near perfect, boasting a 6-1 record, 2.9 WAR, and a 1.35 ERA. His performances give the Yankees stability to play behind, which they will need against the Blue Jays.
