Toronto and New York played the opener of the a three game series Monday night at Yankee Stadium, and neither team put on an offensive show. The Yankees had many opportunities and left 14 men on base, going two for eighteen with runners in scoring position. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, had few opportunities to score, and didn’t capitalize on any of them.
Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey, was able to walk the tight rope most of the night and minimize the damage, but reached 94 pitches at the end of five innings. His final line was five innings, four hits, one run, four walks and six strikeouts. It was his lack of “control” in the fourth that eventually resulted in the run scoring double by Aaron Judge. The bullpen pitched three scoreless innings, however, Joe Biagini and Ryan Tepera left the bases loaded in the sixth and eighth, respectively.
Yankees starter Chad Green made easy work of the Blue Jays, only allowing two baserunners in six innings pitched. His final line was six innings, two hits, no runs, no walks and 11 strikeouts. He left the game leading 1-0. The bullpen made easy work of the Jays lineup in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, the closer Dellin Betances walked weak hitting Josh Thole to open the inning and one out later gave up a single to Josh Donaldson putting runners on the corners. However, on the next pitch, Edwin Encarnacion hit into a double play, ending the game and giving the Yankees the 1-0 victory.
TOP PLAY OF THE GAME WPA
R.A. Dickey played with fire most of the night and got burned in the fourth inning. After retiring Starlin Castro on soft ground out, he walked both Brian McCann and rookie Gary Sanchez. Top Yankee prospect, Aaron Judge, followed with a double in the gap to drive in the first and only run of the game. Dickey was able to get out of the inning without allowing another run, however, Judge’s double increased the win expectancy by 16.5 percentage points.
BOTTOM PLAY OF THE GAME WPA
In the top of the ninth, with the tying run at third and potential winning run at first, Edwin Encarnacion hit into a game ending double play. This changed the win expectancy by 37.4 percentage points and put an end to a poor night for the Blue Jay offence.
TOO MANY STRIKEOUTS
Making contact continued to be a difficulty for the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. Four Yankees pitchers recorded a total of 14 strikeouts. Entering into Monday’s game, the Blue Jays averaged 8.47 strikeouts per game, with only Houston, Tampa Bay and Minnesota being worse in the American League. This lineup missed a golden opportunity to score in the fifth with runners on second and third and one out. Justin Smoak and Melvin Upton Jr. both struck out to end the inning, a prime example of the inconsistencies that have plagued this lineup most of the season.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow the offence will hopefully show up as Toronto and New York will play the middle game of this three game series. The Blue Jays will send Marco Estrada (7-5 2.95) to the mound, looking to bounce back from a poor start against the Tampa Bay Rays, up against Yankees inconsistent righty Michael Pineda (6-10, 5.07). First pitch is at 7:05 PM ET.
Lead Photo: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Judge appears to be a Stanton 2.0. Eek