Yankees 2-9 Blue Jays: Slide continues with another loss

New York Yankees 2-9 Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays cruised to a decisive 9-2 win over the slumping Yankees on Friday night, thanks to a stellar performance by George Springer. Springer hit two grand slams, while Jose Berrios dominated on the mound for seven strong innings. The Yankees’ woes continued as they extended their losing streak to a season-worst four games, with a dismal 2-9 record in their last 11 outings.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 11th solo home run of the season, helping the Blue Jays secure another victory. This win marked their second straight after enduring a seven-game losing streak.

Starting pitcher José Berríos, who had a tough time against the Yankees last season with no wins in three starts, redeemed himself. He allowed only two runs on two hits, issued three walks, and struck out a season-high eight batters.

The Yankees started June strong, winning their first five games and extending their streak to eight. However, they’ve struggled since then, compiling a disappointing 7-12 record.

Yankees Struggles Deepen Despite Judge’s All-Star Nod

New York’s bats fell silent on Friday night, with sluggers Juan Soto and Aaron Judge going a combined 0-for-7 with four strikeouts. This performance came just a day after Judge was honored with a starting spot in the upcoming July 16th All-Star Game.

Despite being one of the few teams in the league to avoid a four-game losing streak, the Yankees couldn’t break out of their offensive slump. Trent Grisham provided a lone bright spot with a two-run homer for New York.

Grisham gets the Yankees on the board 💣#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/rMHSMAbA8V

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) June 28, 2024

The Yankees’ offensive struggles were highlighted by the heroics of Toronto’s George Springer. Entering the game with a batting average of just .196, Springer erupted with two home runs off Yankees starter Carlos Rodón. Both homers came in the first two innings, driving in a total of five runs and propelling the Blue Jays to victory.

This marked Springer’s first multi-homer game of the season and the 22nd of his career, achieved with his second blast. Rodón, meanwhile, continued to struggle, surrendering eight runs for the second consecutive outing and a staggering 21 runs over his last three starts, all resulting in losses.

Yankees’ Rodón Falters as Offense Remains Stagnant

New York starter Carlos Rodón had a rough outing on Friday night. The left-hander, who holds a 9-5 record, gave up a season-worst eight earned runs on ten hits over five innings. Despite striking out eight batters, he also issued a walk.

The damage came early and in bunches. Toronto’s offense erupted in the first inning, with their first five batters reaching base and scoring. The onslaught began with a single, a hit-by-pitch, and a run-scoring double by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Justin Turner then drove in another run with a grounder that evaded the first baseman, setting the stage for George Springer’s first home run of the night.

Manager Aaron Boone attempted to make a change in the fifth inning by calling for reliever Phil Bickford. However, after a conversation with Rodón, the starter convinced Boone to let him finish the inning.

Adding to the Yankees’ woes, infielder Gleyber Torres remained sidelined for a second consecutive game after missing Wednesday’s loss to the Mets. Manager Aaron Boone expressed hope for Torres’ return on Friday, but his absence further hampered New York’s offensive production.

The Yankees Roster

Up Next

Marcus Stroman (7-3, 3.15 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees on Friday night, facing his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. Opposing him will be left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 4.00 ERA), who aims to stifle New York’s offense.

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