NEW YORK — The Yankees tightened the American League East race on Sunday, edging the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 at Yankee Stadium. The victory reduced New York’s deficit to two games with only 19 left on the schedule.
Ben Rice launched a three-run homer in the first inning, and Max Fried delivered seven innings of tough pitching to help the Yankees (80-63) secure the series win over division-leading Toronto (82-61). It marked New York’s 18th victory in its last 25 games and pushed the club to 17 games above .500 for the first time this year.
“It’s huge,” Rice said. “With that being said, we’ve got more work to do.”
Rice delivers early fireworks against Scherzer
The biggest swing of the afternoon came almost immediately. Facing Max Scherzer in the opening frame, Rice battled through a 10-pitch at-bat after falling behind 0-2. On the final pitch, he connected for a 380-foot drive into the right-field stands.
The home run followed a coordinated Yankees sign-stealing effort. Cody Bellinger, stationed at first base, passed signals to Aaron Judge at second. Judge then alerted Rice when Scherzer’s changeup was on the way.
“That is correct,” Bellinger admitted afterward. “That is what was happening.”
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Toronto knew Scherzer was tipping. “They’re good at it,” Schneider said referring to the Yankees. “We have to do a better job of making sure we’re not giving anything away.”
Rice, who now has 23 home runs, described the duel without reference to the signs. “I was getting a better feel for his fastball, better feel for his offspeed,” he said. “The timing felt good. I just kind of waited him out.”
Fried escapes trouble in crucial moments
The Yankees ace’s toughest inning came in the third after Toronto pulled even at 3-3. With runners on second and third and no outs, the left-hander responded with precision.
He forced Alejandro Kirk to bounce out, leaned on Anthony Volpe’s diving catch for the second out, then got another ground ball to finish the inning unscathed.
Max Fried completed seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
“He really buckled down,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “To get us seven innings when we were a little short at the back today, I thought it was a really good effort.”
The outing pushed Fried’s record to 16-5, tying him with Carlos Rodón and Freddy Peralta for the league lead in wins. Over his last four starts, he has allowed only a 1.67 ERA.
Judge’s defense overshadows arm concerns
Aaron Judge contributed the game’s standout defensive play in the fourth inning. He sprawled out to rob George Springer of a likely run-scoring hit.
“Huge,” Fried said. “Springer hit that ball really well. It was just a great catch.”
Still, Judge’s arm strength remained a concern. In the second, his 70.7 mph throw to second base was late on Ernie Clement. Later, on Nathan Lukes’ sacrifice fly, the Yankees captain lobbed the ball to the cutoff man instead of attempting a throw to the plate.
Defensive lapses didn’t end there. Volpe made his 19th error when a low throw pulled Rice off the bag in the third inning. Guerrero Jr. followed with an RBI double.
Bullpen preserves Yankees’ narrow advantage
In the eighth, Devin Williams was tested. Pinch-hitter Addison Barger reached and swiped second, putting pressure on the right-hander. Williams answered by striking out Guerrero Jr. with a full-count changeup and worked around a walk to end the inning.
“That’s what I do,” Williams said. “I’m going to throw it no matter what, no matter what the count is. I always have a lot of confidence in it.”
David Bednar finished the ninth for his second straight save for the Yankees. He got a boost from catcher Austin Wells, who cut down Lukes trying to steal second.
“Excellent throw by Austin,” Boone said. “Probably the biggest defensive play of the game.”
Division race heats up down the stretch
With the win, New York finds itself within reach of its first AL East title since 2019. The Yankees had not been this close to first place since July 3, before Toronto seized control.
Toronto still holds the season series edge, 8-5, giving them the tiebreaker if the clubs finish with the same record.
“We are in a position to go get it,” Boone said. “Now we’ve got to go do it.”
The Yankees rest Monday before hosting the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers for a three-game series. That begins a stretch of 12 straight games against playoff contenders, which the organization has dubbed the “defining dozen.”
“We’re pretty healthy and I feel like we have a lot of guys in a good place,” Boone said. “And we are in a position to go get it. Now, we’ve got to go do it.”
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