Field Level Media
Sep 24, 2020
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits including a solo homer, Hyun Jin Ryu pitched seven scoreless innings and the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a postseason berth with a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday in Buffalo.
Ryu (5-2) became the first Blue Jays starter to pitch in the seventh inning this season. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out four.
After Anthony Bass gave up a run in the eighth, Rafael Dolis allowed an infield single in 1 1/3 innings and had three strikeouts to earn his fifth save of the season.
Alejandro Kirk added a two-run double for Toronto.
The Blue Jays (30-27) took three games of the four-game series to split their 10-game season series with the Yankees (32-25) and reach the postseason for the first time since 2016.
The Yankees previously clinched a postseason spot.
Yankees left-hander Jordan Montgomery (2-3) allowed three runs and six hits while striking out eight in 5 1/3 innings. He didn't walk a batter.
Guerrero hit his eighth home run of the season with one out in the second inning.
Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette hit two-out doubles in the third, and Toronto led 2-0.
Ryu held the Yankees to two hits and two walks over the first five innings before facing some trouble.
The Yankees started the sixth inning with singles by Luke Voit and Aaron Hicks, but Ryu retired the next three batters with Gio Urshela, whose second-inning double extended his hit streak to 13 games, grounding to second for the final out.
Randal Grichuk singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Adam Ottavino replaced Montgomery and was greeted by Guerrero's single. Kirk's two-out double scored both runners to stretch the lead to 4-0.
Bass issued three walks and Urshela's RBI infield single in the top of the eighth. Dolis replaced Bass with two outs and the bases loaded, and he retired pinch hitter Gary Sanchez on a fly ball the wall in center field.
The Blue Jays activated right-hander Nate Pearson (elbow tightness) from the injured list Thursday and designated right-hander Wilmer Font for assignment.
--Field Level Media