Yankees’ five-game winning streak snapped with 8-5 loss to Blue Jays

August 3, 2024 Sportextra Baseball ⚾️, Sports 0

The Yankees lost their first game in a week, dropping the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-5, to end their five-game winning streak.

Here are the takeaways…

-It hasn’t been the kindest of stretches for Marcus Stroman lately. Coming into Friday’s start, the right-hander had just one quality start in his last nine outings. (As a reminder, a quality start is when a pitcher goes at least six innings and gives up three earned runs or less.)

Well, after just 2.2 innings against the Blue Jays, you can make that one quality start in Stroman’s last ten starts.

The 33-year-old struggled from the start, allowing three earned runs before the Yanks could even step up to the plate. In that first inning, Stroman was getting tattooed with all four hits allowed coming off the bat of at least 98 mph. The big hit was a two-out, two-run double by Ernie Clement.

After a clean second inning, Stroman went back out for the third and the wheels completely fell off. Three straight hits began the inning to bring home a run before Clement got to the right-hander again with an RBI single to give Toronto a 5-2 lead. A force out and a walk to load the bases ended Stroman’s night, but not his book as Michael Tonkin came in and allowed a two-run single to make it 7-2. It could’ve been worse had Alex Verdugo not thrown out the final runner at home plate on the sixth hit of the inning.

Stroman’s final line: 2.2 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 3 K on 64 pitches (40 strikes). His season ERA is now 4.10.

-Aaron Judge is on another one of his otherworldly tears right now as he hit his fifth home run in his last seven games. Friday’s homer came in the first inning (where else?) and got New York to within a run at 3-2.

In the first inning this season, Judge has hit 15 home runs and has 27 RBI while slashing an unbelievable .419/.528/.988 for an incredible 1.516 OPS.

The bomb – which was sent into orbit at 477 feet and had an exit velocity of 118 mph – was Judge’s 40th of the season and got him past the 100 RBI mark for just the third time in his career.

Judge is also just the fourth Yankee to have 40 home runs or more in three separate seasons, joining legends Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle.

With 51 games remaining in the season after Friday, can Judge surpass his record-setting 2022 season where he mashed 62 home runs? It’ll be close, but if he keeps up this pace it’s definitely possible.

-Gleyber Torres did not have a good showing in his brief time in this game.

With his team down 3-2 in the second inning, Torres lifted one deep to left field that hit the wall and could’ve put New York in business once again against Kevin Gausman. Instead, the second baseman admired his shot before realizing it was staying in the ballpark and was forced to stop at first base for a long single.

The baserunning blunder came back to cost Torres and the Yanks after Anthony Volpe doubled later in the inning. With Torres still at first, he was forced to hustle around the bases and was thrown out at home for the final out of the inning. It’s the fifth time that Torres has made an out at home plate, which leads the majors this season.

In the aftermath of what transpired, manager Aaron Boone benched the infielder after three innings and the two were seen discussing in the dugout before Torres was taken out of the game.

In the midst of a difficult season and refusing to move from second base after the trade for Jazz Chisholm Jr., this is another bad look for Torres in a contract year.

-Speaking of Chisholm Jr., he made his Yankee Stadium debut on Friday and had a little fun with his gesture to the bleacher creatures who were doing roll-call in the first inning.

After getting a nice hand from the crowd for getting the first out of the game right before his name was due, Chisholm Jr. hit the fans with a stepback fadeaway before acknowledging the group in right-center field.

The move garnered another nice reaction from the fans as the newest Yankee appears to be fitting right in so far during his brief time in the Bronx. Chisholm Jr. finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

-Volpe finished 3-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI in the No. 9 spot of the lineup.

The shortstop has been playing much better over his last 15 games, hitting four home runs during that stretch and slashing .333/.344/.603.

Game MVP: Blue Jays bullpen

After Toronto’s offense gave Gausman everything he could’ve asked for, the starter failed to get out of the fifth inning and let New York creep back into the game. However, the Blue Jays’ bullpen picked up the slack, going 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and a walk and striking out seven.

Highlights

What’s next

The Yankees continue their three-game series with the Blue Jays with a Saturday matinee starting at 1:05 p.m.

LHP Carlos Rodon (11-7, 4.34 ERA) goes for New York while Toronto counters with RHP Jose Berrios (9-8, 3.93 ERA

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