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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays walked off by the Yankees in 8-7 defeat
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Photo credit: © Kim Klement Neitzel - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Mar 7, 2025, 21:30 ESTUpdated: Apr 1, 2025, 12:06 EDT
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It’s never a great day when your division rival beats the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Friday evening, the Blue Jays headed to the Spring Training home of the New York Yankees, falling 8-7 in walk-off fashion to move their Spring Training record to 7-5-1. Let’s take a look at what happened.
The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the first, as Austin Wells and Cody Bellinger each hit a solo home run to give them a 2-0 lead. In the top of the second, the Blue Jays cut the Yankees’ lead in half thanks to Nathan Lukes’ first home run of Spring Training.
A Jorbit Vivas RBI single in the bottom of the fourth added a run for the Yankees, but the Blue Jays rallied in the top of the fifth, thanks to doubles from Addison Barger and Will Wagner, a sacrifice fly from Daulton Varsho, and a Joey Loperfido single, giving the Jays a 5-3 lead.
Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long. Alexander Vargas doubled in the bottom of the sixth to drive in a run. In the top of the eighth inning, Everson Pereira hit his second home run to tie the game, before Alex Jackson hit an RBI single to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Arjun Nimmala tied the game with an inning-ending double play, yes, you heard that right. He was safe at first, allowing two runners to score, but he turned for second and was tagged out. In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees walked it off thanks to two runs of their own.

Takeaways…

The Blue Jays had nine hits in the game, with Nathan Lukes being the only one to hit a home run. Addison Barger hit a double and a single, while Jonatan Clase and Will Wagner also hit a double. Other players with a hit were Orelvis Martínez, Joey Loperfido, Steward Berroa, and Leo Jiménez.
Starting the game for the Blue Jays was Yariel Rodríguez, who struck out four but allowed two home runs in his three innings of work. Ryan Jennings walked two and gave up an earned run in his two-thirds of an inning, with Braydon Fisher striking out a batter in his inning and a third of work.
Ryan Yarbrough pitched two innings, giving up a run and striking out four, while Tommy Nace gave up two earned runs and was tagged with the blown save. Hayden Juenger was also tagged with a blown save as he allowed two earned runs in his third of an inning.
The Blue Jays return to action on Saturday in a split-squad game. Bowden Francis will start the game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Max Scherzer will start against the Detroit Tigers. Both games will be broadcast at 1:05/7 PM ET.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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