After ending streaks, Yankees vie for series win vs. Blue Jays
The visiting New York Yankees aim to ride the momentum from a dramatic win into the rubber match of their three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
Ben Rice snapped a tie with a home run in the ninth inning against Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman in the Yankees' 5-4 win on Tuesday night.
The Yankees had dropped five straight games in Toronto this season, including a 4-1 loss Monday in the opener of the series.
'We got the monkey off our back a little bit there,' said Yankees Devin Williams, who pitched the bottom of the ninth to earn the save on Tuesday. 'I said earlier, 'We played five games here and haven't come away with a win once.' So, it was nice to have a lead and be able to lock it down and leave with a win.'
'It's huge,' Rice said. 'Obviously, we lost five in a row to these guys, so coming back and getting a win here gives us some good momentum heading into tomorrow.'
The Yankees snapped Toronto's 11-game home winning streak and moved to within three games of the first-place Blue Jays in the American League East.
Momentum is said to be the next day's pitcher and the Yankees have a good candidate to provide it on Wednesday with scheduled starter Max Fried (11-3, 2.43 ERA). The left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.74 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays.
Fried left his last start before the All-Star break on July 12 with a blister on his left index finger. He was considered ready to start on Wednesday.
He will be facing a strong mound opponent in right-hander Chris Bassitt (10-4, 3.89), who is scheduled to start for Toronto. He is 4-1 with a 2.03 ERA in seven career starts against the Yankees and is 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts versus them this season.
In addition to Rice's big blast on Wednesday, the Yankees got two doubles, a homer and a couple superb catches in left field from Cody Bellinger. Jazz Chisholm Jr. belted a three-run homer on Tuesday.
The Yankees overcame another throwing error by shortstop Anthony Volpe that led to two unearned runs in the sixth inning. Rice could not make the scoop on the one-bounce throw. Volpe and Oswald Peraza also contributed two unearned runs to the Blue Jays with throwing errors on Monday.
The Yankees made the most of their chances, going 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranding three runners. The Blue Jays were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.
Toronto's bullpen was solid leading to Hoffman, who was pitching for the fourth time in five days. His use is a sign of playing in meaningful games in a division race and could indicate where Toronto's priorities might be at the trade deadline.
'He does such a good job of letting us know how he feels,' Toronto manager John Schneider said. 'We're at the point now where guys are going to have to be pushed a little bit. I didn't want to start the ninth inning with someone else and then feel the urge to bring Jeff in. I'd rather give them a clean inning. Just a pull heater there to Rice. They can hit home runs, that's what they do.'
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