Trey Yesavage displayed his readiness for the challenge and backed it up with an impressive performance on Sunday. The Toronto newcomer showcased his skills in just his fourth major league start, baffling the New York Yankees for 5 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays’ offense continued to shine, leading to a commanding 13-7 victory in Game 2 of the American League Division Series.
Yesavage, clearly elated with his performance, described the experience as being on “cloud nine” and expressed his immense satisfaction. The Blue Jays’ offensive onslaught was highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s grand slam, Daulton Varsho’s two homers, and additional home runs from George Springer and Ernie Clement, propelling Toronto to a commanding 12-0 lead by the fifth inning.
Following a 10-1 win in Game 1, the Blue Jays’ total of 23 runs scored in the first two games set a new record for the most runs scored by a team in the first two games of a single postseason in Major League Baseball history. Myles Straw, a Toronto outfielder, emphasized the importance of taking early leads in playoff games, attributing it to building momentum for their team.
Yesavage, a first-round pick in last year’s draft, steadily climbed through the minor league ranks before making his mark in the major leagues a few weeks ago. His exceptional showing in three regular-season appearances earned him the Game 2 start in front of a supportive home crowd. The rookie pitcher set a franchise playoff record with 11 strikeouts before leaving the game to a standing ovation after his 78th pitch.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone commended Yesavage’s performance, acknowledging the quality of his pitches, particularly his splitter. Despite the no-hit bid being broken in the sixth inning, Yesavage’s stellar outing was a highlight of the game. The Blue Jays’ lead was trimmed as the Yankees mounted a late comeback, but Toronto’s strong offensive showing secured the win.
Guerrero, with an impressive performance at the plate, continued his stellar postseason form, recording six hits in nine at-bats over the first two games against the Yankees. His contributions, along with solid pitching and a potent offense, have put the Blue Jays on the cusp of a series sweep as they head to Yankee Stadium for Game 3.
The Blue Jays will face a challenging environment in New York but maintain a strong position to secure a series victory. History shows that teams winning the first two games in a best-of-five MLB series have an 89% chance of advancing. As the series progresses, the Blue Jays aim to maintain their momentum and secure a spot in the next round of the playoffs.
