The Toronto Blue Jays started the 2021 MLB Season off by beating their division rival New York Yankees on Thursday, 3-2.
Jays Center-Fielder Randall Grichuk delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning when he put a 1-0 fastball just over Aaron Judge’s head in right field for a double, scoring Jonathan Davis.
Quiet Bats
According to spotrac.com, the Yankees will spend $88 million on positional players in 2021. That money accounted for a mere 6 total hits from Yankee batters, as well as 13 strikeouts. Yankees Designated-Hitter Giancarlo Stanton went 0-5 with 3 strikeouts, and Judge would go 1-5 with two strikeouts as well.
The Yankees’ 2 runs came from All-Star Catcher Gary Sanchez, who hit a 407 foot home run to left field in the bottom of the second inning. Sanchez finished the day going 2-3, with a walk and an infield single.
The Blue Jays would also struggle from the batter’s box on Thursday, collecting a team- total of 8 hits and 13 strikeouts. 3 of those 8 hits came from right-fielder Teoscar Hernandez, who had a rocket of a home run off of Cole in the top of the 6th inning. Neither shortstop Bo Bichette or Third-Basemen Cavan Biggio would reach first base, each going 0-5 with a combined 5 strikeouts.
Solid Day for Aces
2019 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole got the opening day start for the Yankees. He went threw for 5.1 innings, allowed 5 hits, and struck-out 8 batters. Cole finished the 2020 season with a 2.84 ERA, and led the American League with 2 complete games.
Blue Jays Ace Hyun-Jin Ryu would also throw 5.1 innings in a no-decision game, only allowing 4 hits and striking out 5 Yankee batters. Jays reliever Jordan Romano would pick the win.
Up Next
The Yankees and Blue Jays will continue their three-game series on Saturday, April 3rd, at 1:05 pm. 2018 Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber will make his first start in a Yankee uniform, and Ross Stripling will make a start for the Blue Jays.
