Home runs from Alejandro Kirk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. headlined a stunning day for the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, as they walloped the New York Yankees 10-1 to take a 1-0 lead in their American League Division Series.
Guerrero crushed his first career postseason homer, red-hot Kirk mashed two solo shots, and the Jays added a pile of late-game runs to turn a close game into a drubbing, as the club recorded its first playoff victory since 2016.
The hard-slugging first baseman Guerrero opened the scoring in the first inning when he broke his own recent batting slump by cracking his first homer in 21 games. He went 3-for-4 at the plate in his best postseason performance yet.
Kirk enhanced Toronto’s lead in the second with his solo shot into deep left.
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Things got tense in the top of the sixth, when Toronto starter Kevin Gausman loaded the bases while leading by just two runs. In one of the most significant moments of the game, Gausman was able to punch out Yankees superstar Aaron Judge swinging to stop the slugger from breaking open the game. Gausman then walked in the Yankees only run before exiting the game after 5 2/3 innings, having allowed four hits while striking out three and walking two.
“Kind of mano a mano in that moment,” said Gausman of the Judge at-bat. “It’s me versus you. I’m going to give it everything I got.”
Louis Varland then entered in relief, and New York’s other runners were left stranded. Varland struck out Giancarlo Stanton swinging with a four-seam fastball that clocked 100.7 miles per hour.
“Honestly, I think Louis Varland versus anybody right now, I would take him,” said Gausman of Varland. “He’s so electric.”
The Jays added eight more runs in a scorching stretch over the seventh and eighth innings. They scored in myriad ways, including an RBI single and double from Andres Gimenez, a pair of RBIs from Nathan Lukes, and sacrifice flies from Guerrero and Ernie Clement.
Plus, Kirk clubbed his second homerun of the day, bringing the catcher’s homer total to an astonishing five in three games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees on Saturday.Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
“It feels amazing to me, but it’s work paying off. It’s hard work that I’ve been putting in for these years,” said Kirk. “More important than that, what I’m happy is that we came out with a victory.”
The Jays also had some outstanding plays defensively, including a layout catch by Lukes and a sliding grab by Daulton Varsho in the field, plus an unassisted double play at first base by Guerrero after his own leaping catch.
“Everybody’s ready for the game,” said Guerrero when asked why this Jays team could win in the playoffs while past editions didn’t. “It doesn’t matter if you’re starting the game, if you’re coming off the bench, everybody to know what they have to do, and then whenever they get the chance, they come up ready and do the job.”
New York yanked its starter Luis Gil from the game after just 2 2/3 innings after he allowed four hits.
Game 2 is Sunday afternoon in Toronto, with Jays rookie Trey Yesavage taking the hill for the Jays. Max Fried will start for the Yankees.
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