Toronto Blue Jays deny New York Yankees lead in four-game series for first time since 1924
Written by Lucky Wilson | KGTO Writer on September 10, 2021
NEW YORK — The Toronto Blue Jays pulled within a half-game of the Yankees for the final AL wild card on Thursday after handing New York one of the worst four-game sweeps in club history.
The Yankees never had a lead during the series, the first time that’s happened in a series of four games or more since 1924 against the Washington Senators, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Yankees had played 1,250 series of four or more games while having the lead at least once before Thursday night.
The 6-4 win also completed the Blue Jays’ first four-game sweep in the Bronx since 2003 and marked their eighth straight win.
Jose Berríos (11-7) dominated the Yankees until Anthony Rizzo’s two-run homer in the sixth tied it at 2. The right-hander got two outs in the seventh before being pulled after 109 pitches. He was charged with two runs and struck out eight.
Bo Bichette got the first of his three hits with his 22nd homer to begin the game. Randal Grichuk added a solo shot against New York starter Nestor Cortes Jr., and Teoscar Hernandez also had three hits for Toronto.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 42nd homer in the ninth inning off Andrew Heaney to make it 5-2. The 22-year-old Guerrero matched Kansas City’s Salvador Perez for second in the majors behind Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who has 43 homers.
Gary Sanchez and Luke Voit homered for New York with two outs in the ninth off Nate Pearson, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.
New York has lost 10 of its last 12 games after winning 13 straight.
Information from the The Associated Press was used in this story.
