Max Scherzer blames himself for Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to rival Yankees
Scherzer didn't take the loss on the scorecard when the Toronto Blue Jays dropped a 5-4 decision to the New York Yankees on Tuesday, but he did take responsibility for it after he gave up four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings.
'I just have to locate the ball better. I gotta put the ball where I want to. I've got to execute better,' said the surefire Hall of Famer. 'This comes down to location. I've got to locate the ball better. You've got to pitch better.
'I don't think this is going back to the drawing board, I think my pitches are there, so that's the good news. But at the end day, I've got to pitch better. I've got to locate better.'
Scherzer gave up a three-run blast to Jazz Chisholm Jr., in the first inning and then a solo shot to Cody Bellinger in the fifth as New York (56-45) jumped out to an early lead. Although the Blue Jays tied it 4-4 in the sixth inning on RBI doubles from pinch-hitter Davis Schneider and George Springer, Scherzer still blamed himself for digging too deep a hole for Toronto to climb out of.
'I take accountability for where I put the ball, and I can be better,' said Scherzer, who struck out four. 'I know I can be better, and so I will be better.'
Closer Jeff Hoffman (6-3) actually took the loss for Toronto after he gave up a home run to Ben Rice in the ninth inning. Addison Barger had kept the Blue Jays in the game with a pair of RBI singles in the first and fifth innings.
'I put them in a tough spot by giving up four runs, but the rest of the team did their job,' said Scherzer. 'Guys are out there fighting.
'We're a great team. They're a great team. These are fun series to be in. You just want to be out there helping your team win more.'
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
The Blue Jays' four-game win streak and franchise-best 11-game streak at Rogers Centre were snapped by the defeat but Toronto still held a three-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East standings.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider wasn't panicking after the loss.
'We had our chances, but didn't really come through,' he said. 'I love the way they fought, though.
'Every night it's the same thing. It seems to be a different guy and we're right in there every game.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
4 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
A year after they were (to a degree) deadline sellers, the Blue Jays are soaring
Even when they traded away a handful of established players at last year's deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays clearly believed a rebound was possible. A year later, they have a comfortable lead atop the AL East. It's hard to say that last year's deadline jump-started Toronto's turnaround, but the important thing is the Blue Jays didn't give up on their core despite being on their way to a last-place finish in 2024. They dealt players like Yusei Kikuchi and Justin Turner — but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette remained with Toronto. Keeping those two was something of a risk given that both could become free agents after this season. Bichette still can, but the Blue Jays were able to sign Guerrero to a $500-million, 14-year contract in April. Guerrero, Bichette and George Springer are part of a Toronto team that ranks third in the American League in OPS while leading the majors in batting average and on-base percentage. Even after a lopsided loss to Detroit on Sunday, the Blue Jays have a 5 1/2-game lead over the second-place New York Yankees — although Toronto also has the second-worst run differential in the division. The Blue Jays have the best record in baseball by a half-game over the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. Toronto has won 21 of its last 27 games, and included in that stretch is a 6-1 record against the Yankees. The Blue Jays are 7-3 against New York, meaning they have clinched that season series should it become a tiebreaker. New York is just 11-18 against the AL East. Trivia time The Blue Jays last made the World Series in 1993. Who are the only other American League teams with longer droughts since their most recent pennants? Tumbling Tigers Detroit's 10-4 win over Toronto on Sunday snapped a six-game skid for the Tigers — and that does not do justice to how poorly they were playing. Detroit had lost 12 of 13, being outscored 89-33 in the process. Ace Tarik Skubal can only do so much. The lone win during that stretch came in one of his starts — a 2-1 victory over Texas on July 20. When he took the mound six days later against Toronto, he threw six scoreless innings, only to have the Tigers go on to lose 6-1. Before Detroit fans panic too much, the Tigers had built up such a big lead that they still have an eight-game advantage over second-place Cleveland in the AL Central after Sunday's victory. FanGraphs gives them a 95.9% chance to make the playoffs. But their chances of earning a first-round bye — by having one of the top two records among AL division winners — is down to 52.6%. Line of the week More like line of the decade. Or perhaps the century. A's rookie Nick Kurtz went 6 for 6 with four home runs, eight RBIs and six runs in a 15-3 rout of Houston on Friday night. Kurtz became the 20th player in major league history — and first rookie — with a four-homer game. He also doubled and singled, so he tied the single-game record for total bases with 19. Comeback of the week Minnesota had a one-run lead at Los Angeles in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday — and Griffin Jax retired the first two batters for the Dodgers. Then it all unraveled for the Twins. Mookie Betts singled, Shohei Ohtani was walked intentionally, Esteury Ruiz drew another walk and then Freddie Freeman singled home two runs for a 4-3 win. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Twins had a win probability of 95.6% after the second out, according to Baseball Savant. Trivia answer The Orioles (1983), Athletics (1990), Twins (1991) and Mariners (never). ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue Jays play the Orioles after Bichette's 5-hit game
Toronto Blue Jays (63-43, first in the AL East) vs. Baltimore Orioles (47-58, fifth in the AL East) Baltimore; Monday, 6:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (11-4, 3.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 117 strikeouts); Orioles: Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.78 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 47 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -125, Orioles +105; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays take on the Baltimore Orioles after Bo Bichette's five-hit game on Sunday. Baltimore is 47-58 overall and 24-26 in home games. The Orioles have gone 31-11 in games when they scored at least five runs. Toronto has a 63-43 record overall and a 26-26 record in road games. The Blue Jays have a 49-18 record in games when they record at least eight hits. The teams match up Monday for the seventh time this season. The season series is tied 3-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Gunnar Henderson has 24 doubles, four triples and 11 home runs for the Orioles. Alex Jackson is 7 for 26 with four doubles, three home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 14 home runs, 62 walks and 54 RBIs while hitting .292 for the Blue Jays. George Springer is 19 for 41 with two doubles, two home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 4-6, .251 batting average, 4.66 ERA, outscored opponents by four runs Blue Jays: 8-2, .307 batting average, 3.44 ERA, outscored opponents by 25 runs INJURIES: Orioles: Felix Bautista: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Maverick Handley: 10-Day IL (head), Scott Blewett: 15-Day IL (elbow), Jorge Mateo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (knee), Keegan Akin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Adley Rutschman: 10-Day IL (oblique), Cade Povich: 15-Day IL (hip), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow) Blue Jays: Alejandro Kirk: 7-Day IL (concussion), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Andres Gimenez: 10-Day IL (ankle), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Paxton Schultz: 15-Day IL (middle finger), Bowden Francis: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Daulton Varsho: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Watch live coverage of World Aquatics Championships from Singapore
Click on the video player above to watch live coverage of Monday's finals session at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Having already secured one, Summer McIntosh continues her drive for five individual gold medals at 2025 worlds with the women's 200-metre individual medley at 8:19 a.m. ET on Monday. The 18-year-old superstar from Toronto will be joined in the race by compatriot Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivières, Que., after the pair qualified for the final on Sunday — placing 1-2 in their heat, respectively. McIntosh owns the world record in the event with a time of 2 minutes 5.70 seconds, set during national trials in June. Reporter Devin Heroux will be on site in Singapore speaking to Canadians following their races, and will join The Ready Room show live on YouTube every day after finals, with Brittany MacLean Campbell hosting from Toronto. The show will include Canadian highlights, athlete interviews and analysis. Watch live coverage of every race at the swimming worlds on and CBC Gem, with finals beginning at 7 a.m. ET each day. The full competition schedule is available here. McIntosh kicked off her world championship campaign Sunday by taking down American icon Katie Ledecky in the women's 400m freestyle final, touching the wall in 3:56.26. "I think I'm at my best. I'm in the best shape of my life. So now I just have to act on that and put it into all my races," McIntosh said after Sunday's final. The result in the 400m free final helped McIntosh extend her Canadian-best career gold medal total to five at long-course worlds, and with her ninth medal overall moved into a tie with Kylie Masse and Penny Oleksiak for most ever by a Canadian. WATCH l CBC Sports' The Ready Room recaps opening day of swimming finals: Summer McIntosh wins gold in the 400m free, defeating American Katie Ledecky | THE READY ROOM 17 hours ago Day 1 of the swimming world championships started fast, with Summer McIntosh winning gold in the women's 400m freestyle, beating out Katie Ledecky of the USA, who took bronze. We hear from McIntosh as well as Canadian Ilya Kharun, who had a disappointing 50m fly. Brittany MacLean Campbell & Devin Heroux tell you everything you need to know from the world swimming championships.
