Gleyber Torres has had a week with ups and downs. After returning to the Yankees lineup following a two-day absence, the Venezuelan star hit his 20th home run of the season.
Gleyber Torres responds to Marcus Stroman’s critics with a home run
However, Gleyber Torres started the game showing some struggles on defense, which prompted a heated reaction from Marcus Stroman.
Frustrated with the Yankees‘ defensive play, Stroman was seen yelling in the dugout after Boone pulled him due to his poor performance. The MLB cameras captured Stroman’s outburst, highlighting the tension on the team.
Despite these challenges, Gleyber Torres has achieved this milestone for the fourth consecutive season. With several games left, he has the opportunity to set a new personal best in the past five years.
Watch Gleyber Torres’ homer below:
Stroman explains outburst at Gleyber Torres
The first three innings of Friday’s game were a continuation of the recent struggles for the New York Yankees. Toronto Blue Jays’ lefty Yusei Kikuchi was perfect the first time through the Yankees’ lineup, while the Yankees’ starting pitcher struggled to find his rhythm, leaving the team looking flat.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, Aaron Judge’s aggressive baserunning allowed Juan Soto to score and tie the game on what could have been a double play. Recently, Judge and Soto have been the primary spark for the Yankees’ offense.
The game took a turn in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a chopper to Anthony Volpe. Volpe’s throw to second baseman Gleyber Torres was quick, but Guerrero’s sprint speed of 29.4 ft/s – his fastest of the season – allowed him to beat the throw to first, preventing the double play.
Pitcher Marcus Stroman felt the Yankees should have scored twice on the play. In frustration, he cursed his glove and shouted, “Throw the damn ball, man,” at Gleyber Torres. He then grabbed a rosin bag behind the mound, only to drop it in frustration.
“It was frustrating,” Stroman admitted. “I made a good pitch, placed it well. I wish we could have turned that double play. We didn’t, and it stings.”
“I talked to Gleyber right after. I’m someone who’s there for each and every guy,”
During the break, YES Network cameras caught Stroman in the dugout yelling, “Show some intensity, man, some damn intensity.” It wasn’t Stroman’s sharpest outing, as he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings.
After calming down, Judge approached Stroman on the bench. They discussed the emotions of the moment, with Judge feeling compelled to apologize. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had started the fifth inning with a single, which Statcast estimated Judge had a 75 percent chance of fielding. Stroman initially thought it was a hit to the thigh, but it was a moment that let him vent his frustration at Torres.
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