Welcome back, Alejandro Kirk! His RBI double gives the Jays a first-inning run! 🎥 Sportsnet | #Bluejays
Instant Reaction: Alejandro Kirk has three-hit performance in return as Blue Jays down Yankees
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Jun 13, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 13, 2026, 10:02 EDT
Apparently all this team needed was Alejandro Kirk back in the lineup.
On Friday evening, the Toronto Blue Jays played the first of three against their American League East rivals, the New York Yankees. From the get-go, this game had a different air about it, as the Jays scored early in what was a 8-5 victory. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
Trey Yesavage hurled a scoreless first inning, bringing the Blue Jays up to bat. After George Springer flew out, Ernie Clement stayed hot, hitting a single. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also flew out, which brought up Kirk for his first plate appearance since early April. On a 3-2 pitch, he hit a sinker that got over the head of the Yankees’ outfielder.
That set up Kazuma Okamoto to do something no Blue Jay has done since 2017, hit a home run into the 500 level. The third baseman got a hold of a pitch down in the zone, sending it due left of Park Social for his team-leading 14th long-ball of the season.
OH MY GOODNESS, KAZUMA OKAMOTO!!! 🎥 Sportsnet | #Bluejays
Moving to the second inning, Springer has had a tough year, but has played well against the Yankees in their five games. On the first pitch of his second plate appearance, he hit a middle-middle changeup for his sixth home run of the season, giving the Jays a 5-0 lead. Three of those six home runs have come against the Yankees.
Now Springer launches one to left, and it's 5-0! 🎥 Sportsnet | #Bluejays
The Yankees hit a sacrifice fly to get on the board in the top of the fifth, then just barely hit a two-run home run in the next plate appearance, making it 5-2. Thankfully, the Jays responded with two in their half of the inning, as Springer drew a lead-off walk and was cashed in by a Guerrero Jr. double. The Blue Jays’ first baseman was driven in by Kirk, who hit an RBI single.
Alejandro Kirk with another hit to make it 7-3! 🎥 Sportsnet | #Bluejays
In the top of the sixth, the Yankees scored twice more to make it 7-5, chasing Yesavage from the game as he struggled toward the end of his outing yet again. The Blue Jays’ bullpen shut it down from there, though, and Clement hit his 20th double of the season to cash in Springer, giving the Jays an 8-5 victory.
A HUGE INSURANCE RUN TO MAKE IT 8-5 IN THE 8TH!!! 🎥 Sportsnet | #Bluejays
Takeaways…
The top of the lineup did most of the damage in this one. First off, how good is it to get Alejandro Kirk back in the lineup? The catcher went 3-3 with a double, two singles, and a walk, hitting in the cleanup spot. Maybe it’s all their offence needed to finally get going.
It helps that George Springer has absolutely killed the Yankees this season. Back in May during their first series, Springer had five hits in 19 plate appearances, two of those hits were homers. Overall, he slashed .278/.316/.611. Well, in this game he went 1-2, walking three times and hitting one of the Blue Jays’ two home runs.
According to Blue Jays Nation writer Ian Hunter, Kazuma Okamoto’s fifth-decker in the first inning was the 24th time a batter has hit a homer up there. It’s the first time a Blue Jay has done it since Josh Donaldson in 2017, and just the 10th time the home team has done it.
Kazuma Okamoto just hit the 24th home run ever into the 500 level at Rogers Centre. He's also the 10th Blue Jay to join the 500 level homer club. The last Blue Jay to go upper deck was Josh Donaldson on May 30, 2017.
With his 20th double of the season, Ernie Clement is tied for the Major League Baseball lead for two-baggers. His 82 hits this season are the third-most in baseball, trailing former Blue Jay Otto López and Luis Arráez. Guerrero Jr. is also starting to hit more doubles lately, hitting a clutch double for what was the game-winning run.
On the mound, Trey Yesavage threw four scoreless innings, before giving up five earned runs in his final 1+ innings. Overall, he went 5+ innings, with four hits allowed, five earned runs, three strikeouts, and six walks. A bit concerning.
Thankfully, the bullpen locked it down. Mason Fluharty allowed two inherited runners to score, but didn’t give up an earned run. Braydon Fisher got out of a bases loaded jam, then Tyler Rogers pitched a clean top of the eighth. Coming in for the save was Louis Varland, who struck out two to go 12/12 in save opportunities.
The Jays have an opportunity to win the series, and finish above .500 on their current home stand. They’ll be in tough, as Yankees’ ace Cam Schlittler takes the mound in Saturday’s game, which has a 3:07 PM ET start time. Kevin Gausman starts for the Blue Jays.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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