Aaron Judge worked Alex Manoah and then ripped him for a game-tying homer in the 6th, and the Yankee offense exploded against the Toronto bullpen in the 7th en route to this 9-1 laugher in Toronto on a Tuesday night.
Meanwhile Jameson Taillon shut down the Blue Jays on 1 run through 6 innings, and gained the win over the vaunted Manoah, who entered the game with a record of 4-0 1.44. Taillon improves on the season to 2-1 2.84.
It was the Yankees 11th win in a row, improving their MLB-leading record to 18-6, and putting them 4.5 games ahead of 2nd place Toronto, which fell to 15-10.
1. Judge’s Turning-Point At Bat
In the 6th, Aaron Hicks led off with a single, and with the Yanks down 1-0 against the great Manoah – gambled and tried to steal 2nd with Aaron Judge up – but he was thrown out. The count went to 0-2 on Judge, who at that point was 1-10 lifetime against the great Manoah. Judge had battled Manoah in both of his first two times up, working the count to 3-2 before striking out swinging both times.
This time up, he worked Manoah again – fouling off two pitches, then taking 3 close pitches to take the count to 3-2 before RIPPING a 96-MPH fastball to right for a game-tying homer.
All Rise to the Challenge 👨⚖️ pic.twitter.com/rQIrLCUccG
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2022
It was the turning point of the game. By the 7th, Manoah was gone and Toronto went to their bullpen.
Meanwhile the homerun ball was caught by a Toronto Blue Jay fan in the upper deck – and instead of throwing it back onto the field, he gave it to a little kid wearing an Aaron Judge jersey. The kid, crying, hugged the Toronto fan he was so moved.
What it's all about 💙 pic.twitter.com/LGt2zkty5J
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2022
The moment was caught on cameras and went viral on Twitter.
2. Taillon Terrific
So the game was tied and you looked up and realized Taillon was pitching a terrific game against the hard-hitting Blue Jays and had matched the Great Manoah inning for inning.
Taillon finished with 6 innings, 5 hits, and 1 run allowed.
3. Giancarlo’s Infield Hit & Toronto’s Failed Challenge
Adam Cimber came in to pitch the top of the 7th and Giancarlo Stanton led off with an infield hit, just legging it out as the ump said Vladimir Guerrero Jr.took his foot off the bag on the stretch. Guerrero Jr felt he had kept his foot on the bag so Toronto challenged the call. They lost the challenge – and therefore used up their challenge for the rest of the game.
That would prove costly.
4. Yankee Offense EXPLODES
Josh Donaldson then doubled to left center past past George Springer – and Stanton had green light all the way. He scored easily to give the Yanks a 2-1 lead. Suzyn Waldman mentioned on the radio that the Yankees seemed to have the green light to run on Toronto’s outfield arms throughout the prior series and this series so far.
Big drive, JD 💪 pic.twitter.com/Jgp9VmUt3k
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2022
Marwin Gonzalez Ripped a double to left center and it was 3-1 NY.
Julian Merryweather came in to pitch for Toronto and allowed an infield single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Jose Trevino then hit a fielder’s choice to 1st base – the throw was to home where Toronto had Marwin Gonzalez hung up between home and 3rd.
Gonzalez ran back towards 3rd, then back towards home – and appeared to go out of the baseline twice and get tagged out by Guerrero Jr – but the ump ruled he didn’t go out of the baseline, and Guerrero Jr missed the tag – so Marwin Gonzalez was safe at home!
Gonzalez is tagged out by- NO! He's not tagged out! pic.twitter.com/BdigMo556N
— John Sterling Calls (@JSterlingCalls) May 4, 2022
Guerrero Jr went ballistic but Toronto couldn’t challenge the call because they had used their challenge up already!
And then to rub salt in the wound – the Yankees really went to town with their bats. Hicks singled in a run to make it 5-1, and Judge doubled in 2 more to make it 7-1 before the inning was over.
5. Bullpen Shuts ‘Em Out Again
With the 6-run inning the Yanks now had a 7-1 lead and so Chad Green, who was warming up, sat down and NY brought in Wandy Peralta, who hadn’t pitched in a week. He pitched a shutout inning, as did Miguel Castro and Lucas Luetge.
Giancarlo Stanton hit a 2-run bomb in the 9th for ballast to make the final score 9-1.
Busy as a G. pic.twitter.com/Idtp8SANcg
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2022
Etcetera
Both the Toronto fan and the Yankee young fan who went viral, were treated before the next night’s game to meet the players — 9-year-old Derek Rodriguez got to meet Aaron Judge, and the Blue Jay fan who gave him the ball — Mike Lanzillotta –was given a Toronto jersey and got to meet the Toronto players.
Last night, 9-year-old Derek Rodriguez was gifted @TheJudge44’s home run ball by Jays fan Mike Lanzillotta.
Tonight, Derek got to meet his favorite player 💙 pic.twitter.com/18b24wKYkv
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2022
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