Blue Jays tie club record by winning their 10th home game in a row as Yankees come to town
Article content
The stage is now set for a three-game series against the visiting New York Yankees that begins Monday night in what promises to be yet another epic matchup with the Bronx Bombers.
Article content
Article content
Article content
On a sun-baked Sunday, the Jays led the San Francisco Giants 7-2, but would hold on for an 8-6 win.
Article content
The following are three takeaways on a day the Blue Jays earned their third successive series sweep at home, a day when the AL East leaders hit three home runs to run their overall record to 58-41.
Article content
1. Berrios exposed
Article content
Once they returned from the all-star break, the Jays quickly turned the page from a tough stretch that saw them lose three of four entering the summer slumber.
Article content
A big reason can be traced to the starting pitching.
Article content
Chris Bassitt set the tone in Friday night's series opener.
Article content
On Saturday, Eric Lauer pitched even better than Bassitt.
Article content
Jose Berrios had a tough act to follow, in other words, when he started the series finale.
Article content
A couple of double plays in the first three innings certainly helped, but Berrios did face a threat in the fifth inning when he had runners at first and second with none out after he gave up a walk, the first time this series a Toronto pitcher had issued a free pass.
Article content
Article content
On the 19th pitch of the inning, Berrios recorded the first out on an infield fly rule, no less.
Article content
Berrios, simply put, was losing his effectiveness as the Giants forced the right-hander to elevate his pitch count.
Article content
A big strikeout would end the inning, thus avoiding Rafael Devers, if the Jays even wanted such a matchup, which didn't seem likely.
Article content
When Berrios began the sixth, he had a 7-2 lead and promptly gave up a single to Devers.
Article content
After Berrios gave up a two-out, two-run bomb to Matt Chapman, a pitching change was made.
Article content
Berrios wasn't as good as Bassitt or Lauer and he needs to be better.
Article content
He was fortunate to be supported by an offence that would record a four-run inning for the third game in a row.
Article content
2. Ray day
Article content
He won a Cy Young Award with the Blue Jays in 2021 and endeared himself to many with his competitive edge and loud grunts, while turning heads with his tight pants.
Article content
When last seen on the mound in Toronto, the left-hander pitched for the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of the 2022 wild card.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
3 minutes ago
- National Post
Cowboys sign tight end Jake Ferguson to a 4-year, $52 million extension
OXNARD, Calif. — The Dallas Cowboys signed tight end Jake Ferguson to a four-year, $52 million extension Sunday. Article content The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus. A fourth-round pick in 2022, Ferguson is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Article content He had 59 catches for 494 yards but did not have a touchdown reception last season. The previous year, he posted career highs with 71 catches for 761 yards and five TDs. Article content
CBC
3 minutes ago
- CBC
Canada's Stakusic bows out of NBO with opening-round loss to Cristian
Canada's Marina Stakusic put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell to Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the opening round of the National Bank Open on Sunday. The 142nd-ranked Stakusic, in her fourth appearance at the NBO, was making her main draw debut in Montreal after bowing out in the second round of last year's tournament, held in Toronto. The 20-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., got off to a strong start, breaking Cristian in the Romanian's very first service game to go up 2-0 in the opening set. The Canadian broke her opponent again in the eighth game to take the opening set 6-2. Cristian wasted little time, however, getting on the board in the second set, breaking Stakusic at love in the opening game. The Romanian, currently ranked a career-high 49th in the WTA rankings, would go on to break her opponent twice more as she evened the match at a set apiece. The third set played out almost identically to that of the second, with Cristian taking the opening game on Stakusic's serve. The Bucharest native then broke twice more on her way to her first-ever win in her first career appearance at the NBO. Cristian will now play Czechia's Linda Noskova in the second round. Noskova, the 20th seed of the tournament, is coming off a runner-up finish at the Prague Open, where she lost Saturday to compatriot Marie Bouzkova in three sets. Stakusic set the table for what promises to be a busy day for Canadians on Montreal's Centre Court. Highly-touted 18-year-old Victoria Mboko is set to make her main draw debut at the National Bank Open later this afternoon against Australia's Kimberly Birrell. Toronto's Mboko has had a breakout 2025 season on tour, qualifying for both the French Open and Wimbledon, where she reached the third and second round, respectively. Bianca Andreescu of Mississauga, Ont., will open up the night session against two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova. The 25-year-old Canadian, who won the NBO in Toronto in 2019, is coming off a strong showing at the Hopman Cup last week in Italy, as she teamed up with Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime to capture the exhibition team tournament. Andreescu won all three of her singles matches in straight sets, dropping only nine games at the competition. Action concludes on Centre Court with Vancouver's Rebecca Marino taking on French qualifier Elsa Jacquemot. The 34-year-old Marino has struggled this season, winning just one WTA Tour-level match all season. Sunday marks the start of a revamped 12-day, 96-player format, which will notably see the top 32 seeds receive automatic byes into the tournament's second round. Action continues daily at IGA Stadium through until the final, set for Aug. 7.
National Post
32 minutes ago
- National Post
Bills WR Shavers carted off with ankle injury; LB Bernard, WR Samuel sidelined with hamstring issues
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills backup receiver Tyrell Shavers was carted off the field at training camp after hurting his right ankle on what proved to be the final play of practice Sunday. Article content Shavers made a catch in the end zone and fell awkwardly while attempting to protect the ball from rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Shavers was on the ground for several minutes while being tended to by the training staff, leading to coach Sean McDermott ending practice a few minutes earlier than scheduled. Article content The 25-year-old Shavers signed with Buffalo as an undrafted rookie free agent two years ago, and appeared in three games with the Bills last season. Article content
