Giancarlo Stanton BLASTED a Grand Slam to left in the 3rd inning, and Anthony Volpe helped add insurance runs with 3 hits, 2 stolen bases, and 2 runs scored as the Yankees beat Toronto 8-3 at Yankee Stadium on a cool but sunny Sunday afternoon.
On the mound Luis Gil looked real good, striking out 8, but walking 4 and leaving in the 5th with 95 pitches thrown — again not getting a win.
The Yankee bullpen of Jake Cousins, Nick Burdi, Caleb Ferguson, and Dennis Santana pitched 4 2/3 innings of 1 run ball — an unearned run at that.
“That was a JOLT,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Stanton’s slam. “One of those where you know right away. I know I reacted to it! Just a really good at bat, obviously in an inning that we built where guys had really good at bats in front of him to set that situation up, and he got a pitch that he didn’t miss — and turned out to be the blow of the game.”
NY wins the 3-game set with the Blue Jays after losing on Friday. The Yankees are now 8-2 on the season. Toronto falls to 4-6.
1. Stanton SLAM Puts NY Ahead 5-1 in 3rd
Toronto starter Bowden Francis looked real good early — striking out the side in the 1st inning and getting thru the 2nd easily.
But in the 3rd, he walked Oswaldo Cabrera, and after striking out Austin Wells, allowed a single to Juan Soto, and walked Aaron Judge.
Francis then walked Anthony Rizzo to force in a run and tie the game 1-1.
Up stepped Giancarlo Stanton — who was ice cold to start the season, but has turned red hot. Stanton had 3 hits Saturday including a homer that just made it over the right-centerfield wall to the opposite way.
Stanton RIPPED a BLAST to left for a Grand Slam and NY was up 5-1.
Stan up and Shout. @Giancarlo818 💪 pic.twitter.com/3NYF7coCyj
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 7, 2024
2. Gil Good But Too Many Pitches
Meanwhile Luis Gil (pronounced Heel like in Gilamonster) also looked good — using his 88-92 MPH changeup, 86 MPH slider, and 98-MPH four-seam fastball for 8 strikeouts — getting guys either on the fastball or the changeup.
Luis Gil, Filthy 92mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/aob3kLzkeE
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 7, 2024
Ump Angel Hernandez Does Gil Dirty in 3rd
Gil struck out the first 2 batters of the 3rd but then got in trouble — a single by George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.hit by pitch.
Gil went to 1-2 on Bo Bichette and thought he had him struck out on consecutive pitches that seemed a tad outside but might have hit the corner. Umpire Angel Hernandez called them balls and Gil was visibly upset on the mound. Bichette walked to load the bases.
Here’s what ESPN recorded (see strike zone on right side):
Yankee Stadium fans started chanting “Angel Sucks!”
Hernandez punished Gil — on the next batter Alejandro Kirk every pitch Gil threw was called a ball even though several of them looked like clear strikes. Kirk walked on 4 pitches to score a run to make it 1-0 Toronto.
Gil then went 3-1 on Cavan Biggio — but came back and poured in 3 straight 96-MPH four-seam fastballs to strike him out and leave bases loaded — no further damage done.
Given a 5-1 lead, Gil went back to the fastball in the 4th — striking out the side in between 1 walk.
Luis Gil's 3Ks in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/jIRp1usjs0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 7, 2024
entered the 5th at 89 pitches. He got Springer to ground out, but Guerrero Jr hit a double and Gil was gone at 95 pitches.
Jake Cousins came in and allowed an RBI double to Bo Bichette, but got a popout and fly out to end the inning.
3. Burdi Pushes Jays Back with PHEW Inning
Jake Cousins allowed a 1-out single to old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the top of the 6th, and then walked Kevin Kiermaier to put 1st and 2nd with 1 out.
Nick Burdi came in and got George Springer to ground out to 3rd — but Oswaldo Cabrera booted the ball and all runners were safe.
With bases loaded, 1 out, Burdi got Guerrero Jr to ground out — scoring a run. Burdi hit Bichette with a pitch to reload the bases — but got Kirk on a foul out to catcher Austin Wells to end the threat. PHEW.
NY 5 Toronto 3.
4. Volpe 3 Hits, 2 SB’s, 2 Runs
Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells created an insurance run in the 6th — Volpe beat out an infield single with 1 out, moved to 2nd when Austin Wells worked a walk, moved to 3rd on a fly out by Cabrera, and scored on a wild pitch by Trevor Richards. NY 6 Toronto 3.
Volpe created another insurance run in the 8th — leading off with a single, stealing 2nd base, stealing 3rd base after Austin Wells struck out, and scoring on an RBI single by Oswaldo Cabrera.
Wheels + Waldo 👊 pic.twitter.com/ctbUeApY7g
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 7, 2024
Gleyber Torres then reached on an infield single, sending Oswaldo to 3rd, and Juan Soto hit a sac fly to left making it NY 8 Toronto 3.
5. Bullpen Finishes Strong
The Yankee bullpen finished strong — with Caleb Ferguson pitching shutout ball in the 7th into the 8th. Volpe helped Ferguson out with a tremendous play up the middle for the 1st out of the 8th.
That's our Gold Glover 🔥@Volpe_Anthony pic.twitter.com/OHqoUWUWSn
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 7, 2024
And Dennis Santana retiring all 5 batters he faced — the last 2 of the 8th, and a 1-2-3 9th including a strikeout of Cavan Biggio for the old ballgame.
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