UPDATE: Toronto Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage made headlines in his postseason debut, striking out an incredible 11 batters in just 5 1/3 innings during a dominant 13-7 victory over the New York Yankees on October 8, 2023. With this win, the Blue Jays now lead the ALDS 2-0.
Yesavage’s performance not only set a new Blue Jays postseason record for strikeouts but also showcased the 22-year-old right-hander’s remarkable talent on a big stage. The rookie’s 11 strikeouts eclipsed the previous record of 8, held by notable pitchers including David Price and Juan Guzman.
The Blue Jays were fueled by an explosive offense, highlighted by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s historic grand slam, marking the first postseason grand slam in the team’s history. Guerrero went 3 for 5 at the plate, scoring twice, while Daulton Varsho shined with two home runs and four RBIs, going 4 for 5 overall.
Toronto’s offensive onslaught continued as Ernie Clement and George Springer also contributed home runs, resulting in the team racking up 15 hits for the second consecutive game. This follows their previous day’s performance, where they defeated the Yankees 10-1.
Yesavage, who was selected No. 20 overall in last year’s amateur draft, showcased his skills with a potent split-finger fastball, which accounted for eight of his strikeouts. After allowing a walk to Aaron Judge, he struck out a streak of six consecutive batters, demonstrating his dominance on the mound.
“It was nasty stuff,”
said Yankees manager Aaron Boone about Yesavage’s pitching.
“That split is unlike most of the stuff you’d ever run into. He had it going. We just didn’t have an answer for that split. He was on his game.”
Despite a strong start, Yankees left-hander Max Fried struggled, allowing seven runs in just over three innings. The Yankees, who now face elimination, will host the next game in the series on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
As the series shifts to New York, fans will be eager to see if the Blue Jays can maintain their momentum against the Yankees. Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, is set to start for Toronto against Carlos Rodon for the Yankees.
This thrilling matchup continues to captivate fans, with both teams pushing for postseason glory. Stay tuned as the ALDS unfolds, with Toronto aiming for a sweep and New York fighting to stay alive.
