Gary Sanchez homered for the second straight game, while Corey Kluber made his debut in pinstripes as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays on Saturday, 5-3.
Here are some key takeaways...
1. DJ LeMahieu got the Yankees on the board with an infield single in the second. With runners on second and third and two outs, LeMahieu dribbled a Ross Stripling offering to third. Cavan Biggio charged and fired on the run, but his throw pulled Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the bag and allowed Gio Urshela to score.
2. The Blue Jays drew even in the top of the third after Gary Sanchez tried to complete a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double play, but instead bounced the ball into center field. The error allowed Danny Jansen to scamper home from third and tie the game at 1.
3. Sanchez came to the plate leading off the bottom off the fourth and lined a Stripling breaking ball just over the wall in left to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. They tacked on another run later in the inning on another infield hit, this time courtesy of Aaron Hicks.
4. Corey Kluber’s Yankee debut lasted just four innings, but the right-hander struck out five in 4-plus innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. Kluber struggled with his control, walking three and hitting a batter, and allowed a home run to Marcus Semien on the final pitch of his outing. He departed in the fifth with the Yankees leading, 3-2.
5. After two perfect innings from Jonathan Loaisiga, the Yankees loaded the bases for Jay Bruce with two outs in the sixth. Bruce got jammed, but still managed to bloop a single to left to score two and give the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
6. Making his first big-league appearance since 2015, Lucas Luetge pitched the top of the seventh and allowed a run after a leadoff single and a pair of wild pitches led to an RBI groundout.
7. After Darren O’Day worked himself into a jam allowing the first two runners to reach in the eighth, he got the next two batters before giving way to Chad Green. Green struck out Rowdy Tellez to end the inning, then retired the side in order in the ninth to slam the door.
What’s next
Domingo German will take the mound in a regular-season game for the first time since 2019 when then Yankees finish up their three-game series with the Blue Jays. First pitch at Yankee Stadium is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.