LeMahieu’s single in the 10th inning gives Yankees a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays
NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu hit a game-winning single through a five-man infield in the 10th inning to give the New York Yankees a rain-delayed 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
Juan Soto hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning and Gleyber Torres had two hits for the Yankees, who won for the seventh time in eight games. New York remained tied for first in the American League East with Baltimore, which won 9-5 at Cleveland.
Aaron Judge was intentionally walked three times by the last-ranked Blue Jays, who intentionally gave him a free pass with the bases empty in the second inning Saturday.
The last Yankees batter to receive three intentional walks in a game was Bernie Williams against Tampa Bay in September 1999.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole returned to the mound after missing his scheduled start in Philadelphia last Tuesday due to general physical fatigue. The right-hander struggled through a long second inning but rebounded to pitch into the sixth, retiring 10 of his final 11 batters.
Cole allowed two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking none. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner missed the first 75 games of the season because of nerve inflammation and swelling in his right elbow that have kept him sidelined since spring training.
New York manager Aaron Boone and hitting coach James Rowson were ejected by plate umpire Tripp Gibson in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes. It was Boone’s sixth ejection this season, the most in the major leagues, and the 39th of his managerial career. He has led the major leagues in that category each of the last four seasons.
Rain interrupted play in the eighth period for 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Trent Grisham sacrificed automatic runner Anthony Volpe to third base in the bottom of the 10th. Toronto moved an outfielder to the infield to try to prevent the Yankees from scoring, but LeMahieu grounded a ball up the middle against Bowden Francis (4-3) to spark a celebration.
LeMahieu also hit a sacrifice fly to tie a two-run sixth inning, helping New York erase a 2-0 deficit. He’s finally started swinging big lately after struggling at the plate this season following his return from a foot injury.
Mark Leiter Jr. (3-4) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.
Soto’s solo home run off the left-center fence gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning. Alejandro Kirk tied it with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled to extend his hitting streak to 17 games, but was pulled while trying to steal a batter later. Guerrero is batting .508 (32-for-63) during that stretch with 19 extra-base hits.
Toronto rookie Yariel Rodriguez allowed four hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his 11th major league start.
Kirk and rookie Addison Barger hit back-to-back doubles as Toronto sent seven batters to bat against Cole in the second inning. Barger scored on a two-out single by Ernie Clement, who finished with three hits.
Volpe became the fifth Yankees player to steal at least 20 in each of his first two seasons, the first since Fritz Masel in 1913 and 1914. Since the All-Star break, the young shortstop is hitting .365 (23-for-63).
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Blue Jays: Outfielder George Springer was rested. He was removed as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning and remained in the game.
Yankees: Soto took advantage of his right hand after sliding headfirst into second base on a double in the eighth inning. Athletic trainers checked on Soto, but he remained in the game. … LF Alex Verdugo was rested.
FOLLOWING
Blue Jays: Return home to begin a three-game series against Baltimore on Tuesday night, when right-hander Chris Bassitt (8-10, 4.02 ERA) faces the Orioles for the second straight start. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (13-4, 3.86 ERA) pitches for Baltimore.
Yankees: Rookie right-hander Luis Gil (11-5, 3.20 ERA) faces Angles right-hander Davis Daniel (1-2, 4.91) Tuesday night in the Bronx.
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This story has been corrected to reflect that Soto’s home run gave the Yankees the lead.
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