Instant Reaction: Yankees rough up Kevin Gausman, earn series split with 8-1 win

For the first three games of this series, either you lost substantially or you won handily – there was no in-between. The series finale followed the trend, but it didn’t go in Toronto’s favour. Kevin Gausman dealt with traffic on the base paths throughout his entire outing en route to seven earned runs and Yankees starter Gerrit Cole took a massive step forward in ramping back up as the Bronx Bombers defeated the Blue Jays by a score of 8 to 1 to earn a series split.

Gausman faced the Yankees twice back in April with New York making him work strenuously one way or another in both outings. By throwing 107 pitches through just 4 1/3 innings, this afternoon was no different, and it started from the jump.

Juan Soto, a late addition to New York’s lineup after being on the sidelines for yesterday’s game, singled to right field with one out in the top of the first, paving the way for Aaron Judge to launch his 31st home run of the season to straightaway centre field. It’s the second time that Judge has hit a home run against Gausman this season, and it was the fifth time in his career.

Gausman allowed three walks, two hits, and two runs in the top of the 2nd, allowing the Yankees to extend their lead to 4-0. Walking Ben Rice and Austin Wells with no one out didn’t do Gausman any favours, and the lineup ultimately turned back to Soto and Judge with only one out in the inning.

The Blue Jays generated some base runners in the bottom of the third frame with Spencer Horwitz working an 8-pitch at-bat for a walk, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting hit by a pitch in on his hands. Guerrero Jr. was evaluated by the training staff for a few minutes before making his way down to first base, and he would ultimately be removed from the game in the later stages once the contest was put to bed. Justin Turner capped off his spectacular June with an RBI single into centre field to score a run, but a double play from George Springer following the run ended the Jays momentum. That would be the last time that Toronto would threaten Yankee pitching for the day, as thirteen straight Blue Jays were retired after Turner’s RBI single.

Gausman kept Toronto in the game during the third and fourth innings, although they weren’t easy frames to navigate. Things went awry in the fifth inning, as an RBI double from DJ LeMahieu would end Gausman’s day. Génesis Cabrera was put into the game to stop the bleeding, but he allowed a two-run double to Trent Grisham that tacked two more earned runs onto Gausman’s stat line, and the Yankees took a 7-1 lead.

All in all, Gausman allowed seven hits, seven runs, five walks, and seven strikeouts on the day through 4 1/3 innings in another tough contest against their AL East rivals. It was the fifth time this season that Gausman allowed five or more runs in a start, eclipsing his total from all of last year while the right-hander struggled with his command. The Yankees were only 5-for-17 with runners in scoring position but the hits they did collect were of high magnitude. They outhit Toronto 12-4, and they posted six extra-base hits to Toronto’s zero with the bats becoming silent for most of the day.

Cole was making his third start since returning from the IL on June 19th. He went five innings allowing three hits, one run, one walk, and six strikeouts, undoubtedly his best start of the three.

What’s Next: Toronto opens up a four-game series with the Houston Astros tomorrow for the annual Canada Day matchup at the Rogers Centre. Yariel Rodríguez is slated to take the bump after a rain delay last week in Boston shortened his most recent outing. Righty Hunter Brown is projected to face the Blue Jays for his 16th start of the season. Brown has only made one career start against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs over six innings last season.