The Yankees got an ace-like start from Gerrit Cole, who bounced back from last Tuesday’s tough outing against the Mets with a return to form in Sunday’s 8-1 win at the Toronto Blue Jays as New York (54-32) secured a split of the four-game series.
Four takeaways from Sunday’s game
1. Cole, who allowed six runs on seven hits (four homers) in his second start of the season against the crosstown Mets, looked much more like himself. He threw 90 pitches (61 strikes), fanning six while walking one and limiting Toronto (38-45) to one run on three hits in five innings.
While Cole (1-1, 6.23 ERA) hit two batters, he ultimately answered the call with a performance that quelled any concerns from his last time out.
2. Cole got some immediate help from his captain, as Aaron Judge‘s third straight multi-hit game included a first-inning home run that followed Juan Soto‘s one-out single and put the Yankees up 2-0 early on. Judge followed his MLB-best 31st home run and 82nd RBI of the season through 84 games with an eighth-inning single that boosted his .316/.436/.708 slash line.
As the Yankees — 5-10 in their past 15 games — look to turn the corner, they need this caliber of MVP production from Judge.
3. The same could be said for Soto, who complemented Judge with a 1-for-3 day that included two walks and a run in the second spot. The Yankees’ offense will go as their best two bats in the lineup do, and Soto — who was a late entry into the starting nine but made it look easy — followed Saturday’s 3-for-4 day with a commendable effort.
Soto is slashing .303/.437/.568 with 20 home runs and 61 RBI through 82 games.
4. Beyond Judge and Soto, the remaining Yankees bats — particularly the bottom of the order — will determine if New York can sustain this momentum. Among others, DJ LeMahieu did his part out of the eighth spot with a 2-for-5 day that included RBI singles.
LeMahieu, whose knocks in the second and fifth innings extended the Yankees’ 3-0 and 5-1 leads, answered the bell as he improved his slash line to .188/.286/.212 through 26 games.
Who’s the MVP?
Judge, whose MVP-worthy season continued with a tone-setting first inning that paved the way for Cole to pitch with a lead and lead the Yankees past the Blue Jays in a series-splitting game that New York needed as it gets its season back on track.
Highlights
Upcoming schedule
The Yankees have Monday off before returning home for a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
RHPs Luis Gil and Graham Ashcraft are set to start Tuesday’s 7:05 p.m. opener.
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