New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays Match Player Stats On Jul 07, 2018

Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge opened the game with consecutive home runs, Luis Severino pitched five innings, and the visiting New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 on Saturday.

Gardner also had a two-run triple and Brandon Drury hit a two-run double, helping the Yankees bounce back from a 6-2 loss Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, and Randal Grichuk and Aledmys Diaz added solo shots.

Severino (14-2) allowed three runs, five hits and two walks while striking out five to win his fifth consecutive start.

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the first batter in the ninth inning before leaving the mound with a trainer. Chasen Shreve replaced him and gave up Diaz's eighth homer of the season with two outs before securing the victory.

Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ (10-5) yielded six runs, four hits and six walks in 2 2/3 innings in losing his second consecutive start. He fanned five.

The Yankees homered twice in the game's first five pitches. Gardner led off with his sixth homer of the season -- the 14th of his career leading off a game -- on a first-pitch fastball. Judge hit his 25th on a 2-1 fastball.

The rally continued when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Hicks walked. After Happ struck out two batters, Drury blooped a two-run double to center.

Justin Smoak singled and Pillar hit his eighth homer of the season in the second.

The Yankees scored three runs in the third for a 7-2 lead. Didi Gregorius and Greg Bird walked. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett for arguing balls and strikes after replacing Happ with Jake Petricka. Gardner greeted Petricka with a two-run triple and scored on a passed ball.

During the inning, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia also was ejected from the bench by Barrett, apparently for protesting a called third strike on Kyle Higashioka.

Hicks left the game in the fifth inning with a leg cramp. Clint Frazier, recalled up from Triple-A on Saturday, entered the game in left field with Gardner moving from left to Hicks' spot in center.

--Field Level Media