Stanton Powers Yankees Again, Bombers Pound Blue Jays

 YANKEES 7 - BLUE JAYS 2 

The Yankees are inching closer and closer and closer to the postseason. And once again Giancarlo Stanton is a big reason why. 

The Yankees pounded the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 in the first of a critical late-season, three-game series that is going to go a long way in determining the fate of the AL Wild Card game that is to take place next Tuesday. And right now, the Yankees are in the driver seat. 

And they may have come very close to shutting the door. Not only did New York's win get the Bombers another win up on Toronto in the standings, but the Boston Red Sox lost to Baltimore 4-2, meaning New York's magic number is down to just 3. Which means if the Yankees take care of business in the next two days, and get another assist from Baltimore, they will be in the postseason before Friday. 

As has been the case of late, the Yankees used the long ball to their advantage. 

Aaron Judge's solo homer in the top of the third inning tied the game at one after Bo Bichette gave Toronto the early lead on a RBI single in the bottom of the first off starter Jameson Tallion. 

Speaking of Tallion, he didn't last long. He came out of the game with one out in the third inning after, reportedly re-injuring the partially torn right ankle tendon that kept him sidelined for the better part of three weeks. 

 

Instead the Yanks had to turn to Michael King, who pitched admirably for 2.2 innings, holding the Jays to a run on two hits. Still losing Tallion on the eve of the postseason is a concern for a team that is not exactly deep in the starting pitching department. 

Even with the setback on the hill, it was not enough to slow down the Yankees. Anthony Rizzo tied the game at two on a bases loaded single that scored Gio Urshela in the top of the fifth. Judge then gave the Yankees the lead on a sac fly to right, scoring D.J. LeMahieu to make it 3-2. 

However it was Giancarlo Stanton who put the game away when he crushed a pitch down the left field line for a three-run homer to give the Yanks a commanding 6-2 lead in the seventh. They never looked back. 

The homer was Stanton's 36th of the year; he has now homered safely in four straight games, all Yankees wins. 

The Yankees and Jays continue their crucial series tomorrow night north of the border.