Yankees-Blue Jays Game 4 takeaways: Toronto rides bullpen day back to ALCS

Sports

By Brendan Kuty, Mitch Bannon and Chris Kirschner 

For the first time in nine years, the Toronto Blue Jays are heading back to the American League Championship Series. Yankee Stadium released exasperated groans as New York fell to Toronto’s rotating relievers and the Yankees’ bats faltered in late-inning opportunities.

The Jays tortured the Yankees all season, and notched one final win 5-2 in Game 4 of the AL Division Series on Wednesday. Manager John Schneider handed the ball to eight pitchers, navigating a stressful bullpen day to secure the Blue Jays’ clinching victory.

The winner of the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers series will meet the Blue Jays in the ALCS, with Game 1 set for Sunday in Toronto.

Chisholm flames out

One night after playing hero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. faltered in a pair of big spots. His error on Andrés Giménez’s one-out grounder in the seventh inning with a runner on first base was a major blow. It was a tailor-made double play, yet it clanked off the heel of Chisholm’s glove, allowing the runner, Ernie Clement, to reach third base. It brought an end to starter Cam Schlittler’s night, and two batters later, Nathan Lukes’ single brought in two runs for a 4-1 Blue Jays lead.

In the sixth, Chisholm walked to the plate with Aaron Judge on second base and Giancarlo Stanton on first and two outs, but Chisholm grounded out weakly to second base. He had been a major part of Game 3, hitting a solo homer to break a 6-6 tie in the Yankees’ eventual win.

It helped that Chisholm drew a walk to put two runners on for Ben Rice in the eighth, but after Rice also walked to load the bases, Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman got Austin Wells to fly out to end the inning, spoiling the Yankees’ best late chance.

Lukes, one of Blue Jays’ many journeymen, adds crucial insurance runs

Lukes spent nine seasons in the minor leagues. He’s played 733 games at the development levels and 391 at Triple A alone. He’s part of Toronto’s cast-off crew — alongside trade dumps and minor-league free-agent signings like Eric Lauer, Clement and Myles Straw — who have provided the Jays with surging depth.

When Toronto’s star leadoff hitter, George Springer, struck out with two Blue Jays on base in the seventh inning, the Jays moved to 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They hadn’t taken advantage of opportunities. Then, Lukes came through for Toronto once again, slapping a single into left field to cash both runs. Alejandro Kirk added a fifth run in the eighth.

The Jays have a $500 million face of the franchise in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and big-name pitchers such as Kevin Gausman and Hoffman. But the clutch moments from quieter names like Lukes count for just as much. They helped Toronto win the AL East, and they’re helping the team push deeper into the postseason, too.

Varland kickstarts brilliant Blue Jays bullpen day, as relievers get their groove back

Hours after Louis Varland gave up a gargantuan game-flipping homer to Judge, he stepped into Schneider’s office. By the end of the conversation, it was decided that Varland would start Game 4 the next day.

“Talking to him,” Schnieder said. “Him being anxious to get back out there.”

It was a chance for redemption or double-defeat. Varland, once again, faced the core of New York’s lineup. He had to pitch to Judge.

As Judge stepped into the box, after Varland retired leadoff man Trent Grisham, the stadium swelled, hoping to see another foul-pole dinger. Instead, the two-time MVP laced a single to left field — a relative victory for Varland given the Game 3 result. It was the only hit Varland allowed, as he recorded four outs for Toronto. He left after hitting Paul Goldschmidt in the second inning, kickstarting a Blue Jays bullpen game that couldn’t have gone cleaner.

Schneider handed the ball from reliever to reliever, and the eight bullpen arms combined for just two runs allowed over nine innings. The lone damage came from the Ryan McMahon homer off Mason Fluharty in the third. After using six relievers in Game 3 and bullpen troubles all series, the Jays’ relief arms gave them exactly what they needed. They re-found their September form and looked like the group the Jays will need in future postseason rounds.

Schlittler does his part

It was a different kind of outing for Schlittler after his masterpiece in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. The rookie starter did not have electrifying stuff Wednesday night. He registered only six swings-and-misses, and none of his pitches topped 100 mph, like he did against the Boston Red Sox.

Schlittler lasted 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned) and striking out just two Blue Jays hitters. Yankees manager Aaron Boone left Schlittler in the game in the seventh inning, even though his fastball velocity was starting to dip.

Even with diminished stuff, Schlittler should have escaped the seventh after inducing what appeared to be an inning-ending double play. Instead, Chisholm booted the ball, and the Blue Jays were able to score two additional insurance runs.

Schlittler’s rookie season was encouraging. He should be a fixture in the Yankees’ 2026 rotation.

McMahon’s bat and glove on display

McMahon’s first career postseason home run came in a huge spot, leading off the third inning to tie the score at 1. In a lefty-on-lefty matchup, McMahon battled Fluharty for seven pitches, dumping an 83 mph sweeper that was out and over the plate into the right-field short porch.

A defensive whiz, McMahon didn’t hit well for the Yankees after they acquired him at the trade deadline, smacking just four home runs with a .641 OPS.

However, his bat and glove stood out Wednesday. The 30-year-old also made a few impressive plays on defense, including a catch while falling on his back near Toronto’s dugout on a popup to start the seventh.




Source link

Tags

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *