LeMahieu Wins It For Yankees After Long Day's Journey Into Night

 

DJ LeMahieu hit a single in the 10th inning to bring in Anthony Vople with the winning run. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Yankees rush to mob DJ LeMahieu after his game-winning hit in the 10th inning. Photo by Jason Schott.

The Yankees won a wild one on Sunday at The Stadium, 4-3 in 10 innings, over the Toronto Blue Jays, with DJ LeMahieu knocking in the winning run.

LeMahieu had another RBI earlier in the game on a sacrifice fly that tied it in the sixth inning. It was his fifth career walk-off hit, and the first since April 22, 2023, which also was against Toronto. It comes just a few days after he had six RBI, including a grand slam, on Wednesday in Philadelphia. 

Yankees Manager Aaron Boone said of what this stretch can do for LeMahieu, "I know he's been working hard on just making some subtle adjustments to his swing, so I think he's doing some good things. I thought every at-bat today, good at-bats. I think he hit a decent ball to center his first time, lined out once, good job on the sac fly. I do feel like the at-bats are getting better, he's moving the needle, and I think, hopefully along with it, gaining a bit of confidence. He can play obviously such a big role for us, so really excited for him."

For the Yankees, it is the seventh win in their last eight games, as they are in a tie for first place with the Baltimore Orioles, as both teams are 67-46.

Gerrit Cole got the start for the Yankees, and he came out firing, as he notched two strikeouts in the first inning to work around a lead-off single by Ernie Clement.

In the bottom of the first, the Yankees went to work against Jays starter Yariel Rodriguez. 

Gleyber Torres led off with a single, Juan Soto walked, but Aaron Judge struck out. Austin Wells then walked to load the bases for Giancarlo Stanton, and he popped one up foul in front of the Yankees dugout that first baseman Spencer Horwitz snagged. Jazz Chisholm Jr. then lined out to third base to end the threat.

Toronto responded by plating two in the top of the second, as Alejandro Kirk hit a one-out double and scored on a double by Addison Barger, who came in to score on a single by Clement.

That 2-0 lead would hold up, as Rodriguez kept the Yankees off the board until he was lifted with two outs in the fifth, after he got Torres to ground out to shortstop. He was lifted despite throwing a shutout and being at just 73 pitches, and this took him out of being eligible for the win.

In came Brendon Little, who proceeded to walk Soto, intentionally walk Judge, and walk Wells to lose the bases.

Zach Pop was next up for Stanton, and he struck him out, the second time the Yankee slugger left the bases loaded.

By this point, Cole settled in, and after he struck out Daulton Varsho for the second out in the sixth, he was lifted.

Gerrit Cole pitching to Spencer Horwitz in the sixth inning. Photo by Jason Schott.

Cole, making his first start since he lost to the Mets on July 24, went 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two runs (both earned) on six hits and no walks, with four strikeouts.

Pop stayed on for the Jays in the sixth, and he allowed singles to Chisholm and Anthony Volpe before he exited. 

Ryan Yarbrough was next up, the third Jays reliever to enter within an inning after Rodriguez was lifted.

Trent Grisham grounded out to first base, which brought in Chisholm, then LeMahieu hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Volpe, and it was now tied at 2.

In the seventh, left-hander Genesis Cabrera came on to face Soto, who greeted him with a blast into the Toronto bullpen in left-center field to put the Yankees ahead. 

It was the Yankees right fielder’s 28th home run of the season, to go along with 78 RBI.

Juan Soto celebrates with Aaron Judge after his seventh inning home run. Photo by Jason Schott.

Judge was then intentionally walked, and Wells struck out on a questionable pitch that led to the ejections of both Yankees Manager Aaron Boone and Hitting Coach James Rowson. Even though Chisholm drew a two-out walk, the Yankees couldn’t add to their lead.

The lead would be short-lived, as the Jays tied it in the eighth.

With Tommy Kahnle on for the Yankees, Joey Loperfido appeared to hit a routine fly ball to left field. The only problem was center fielder Trent Grisham ran in front of Judge and it slipped out of his glove.

Loperfido would end up on second base, and with one out, Kahnle walked Horwitz and Varsvo to load the bases.

Yankees closer Clay Holmes came on, and Kirk blasted one to deep left field, which Judge caught in front of the fence. 

While Kirk get the big hit he wanted, it was still a sacrifice fly that tied the fans at 3. 

Barger then struck out looking to end the frame, and not surprisingly with how dark it got, the tarp came immediately out.

The rain delay began at 4:28 p.m., and it would be a 1 hour and 49 minute delay until play resumed at 6:17 p.m.

Ryan Burr came on for the Jays for the bottom of the eighth, and Grisham greeted him with a single.

After getting the next two outs, Burr would yield to old friend Chad Green to face Soto.

The Yankees slugger, who homered one inning prior, lined one into the corner in right field for a double. 

 

Juan Soto lacing his double into right field off Chad Green.  Photo by Jason Schott.

Judge was intentionally walked again to load the bases for Wells, who flew out to right to end the frame.

Two of the pitchers the Yankees acquired at the trade deadline - Enyel De Los Santos and Mark Leiter Jr. got through the ninth inning, and Green stayed on for the Jays and retired the Yankees in order in the bottom half of the frame.

Leiter Jr. stayed on for the 10th, and he got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fly out to center field before striking out Yankee nemesis George Springer Jr, and Kirk.

In the bottom of the 10th, with Volpe at second base as the "ghost runner," Grisham laid down a bunt to move him over to third.

With LeMahieu coming up with one out and the runner at third, Toronto moved in one of their outfielders to put five in the infield.

When they originally set up, they had two on each side and one positioned right in front of the second base bag. (photo below).

Knowing what the rules are banning the shift, it was obvious this might not be allowed. Yankees Bench Coach Brad Ausmus contested it with the umpires, and they made them move that Blue Jay to the right side of second base, meaning three were on the right side and two on the left. (pictured below)

Knowing what a veteran hitter like LeMahieu can do, he punched it right up the middle to bring in Volpe with the winning run.

DJ LeMahieu's game-winning single. Photo by Jason Schott.