Advertisement 1

Blue Jays doomed early by Yankees' long bombs

Article content

TORONTO — Wednesday’s game between the Blue Jays and Yankees was a parade. A hit parade for New York and a parade from the bullpen to the mound for Toronto.

The Yankees spanked Toronto pitching for 17 hits, including three home runs early off Nick Tepesch, an emergency starter for the Jays with Aaron Sanchez still out with a blister issue and Joe Biagini being stretched out in Triple A Buffalo. Tepesch pitched as well as could be expected but it was the long ball provided by Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius and Todd Frazier that paced the Yankees to a 11-5 victory over the Jays. Frazier went 3-for-4, with a double. Jose Bautista hit a homer for Toronto off New York starter Masahiro Tanaka.

The Jays burned through six relief pitchers and the Yankees five.

Right-hander reliever Taylor Cole made his Major League debut for the Jays in the eighth and though he did strike out Yankees phenom Aaron Judge, he struggled, giving up four runs on six hits in one inning of work, but was thrilled to get his first taste of the Big Leagues.

“It’s something I’ve always dreamt of doing,” said Cole.

Cole admitted that the adrenaline probably pumped him up too much.

“You try to tell yourself to slow down and I think you don’t realize that you’re speeding up a little bit and that’s one of the adjustments I need to make, just have better balance,” he added. “My stuff’s there, I have no doubt about that, I just need to slow down a bit. I’ve taken a couple of things and I just need to keep battling. I was letting it rip and then I started to try to pinpoint things towards the end and take a little off and you can’t do that with Major League hitters. It’s not what got me here.”

Toronto manager John Gibbons said he had really had no choice but to bring Cole in with the Jays only behind by one run.

“We didn’t have a whole lot down there left,” said Gibbons. “Our bullpen guys are getting abused a little bit. So that’s what happens. Could gone maybe with one or two other guys a little bit longer (before bringing Cole in) and covered us a little bit. But he’s here to pitch, wanted to get his debut in.”

Tepesch allowed five runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings but Gibbons said he did some good things and could get another start. The Jays haven’t announced who will be their emergency starter in Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Rogers Centre, but it won’t be Tepesch. Too close.

Bautista has now hit 35 career homers against New York, tied for the most among active players with Evan Longoria. Josh Donaldson drove in a run and drew three walks, his 29 walks since June 30 are the most in the AL. Raffy Lopez made his first start as a Jay, the sixth player to start at catcher this season, a franchise record.

sbuffery@postmedia.com

Twitter: @beezersun

Article content
Advertisement 2
Advertisement
Article content
Article content
Latest National Stories
    News Near Pembroke
      This Week in Flyers