George Springer hits two three-run homers, Blue Jays beat slumping Yankees 9-2

Thu, Jun 27, 2024
MLB News (AP)

TORONTO (AP) - George Springer had three hits, including a pair of three-run home runs, Jose Berrios pitched seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the slumping Yankees 9-2 on Friday night, handing New York its season-worst fourth straight loss and ninth in 11 games.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added a solo home run, his 11th, as Toronto won its second straight after losing the previous seven.

Berrios (7-6) went 0-3 in three starts against New York last season. He allowed two runs on two hits, walked three and struck out a season-best eight.

The Yankees opened June with five straight wins, capping an eight-game streak. They are 7-12 since.

New York sluggers Juan Soto and Aaron Judge finished 0 for 7 with four strikeouts. Earlier Thursday, Judge was named a starter for the July 16 All-Star Game.

Trent Grisham hit a two-run home run for the Yankees, who had been one of four teams not to lose four straight this season. Cleveland, Milwaukee and Philadelphia have yet to lose four in a row.

Springer came in batting .196 with six home runs, two of which he hit on the first two days of the season. The veteran outfielder also homered in Tuesday's win at Boston.

RELATED COVERAGE

Bryce Harper hurts hamstring on final play of Phillies' 7-4 loss to Marlins

Burnes shackles Rangers over 7 innings and Orioles hit 4 HRs in 11-2 rout of defending champs

Judge and Harper to start in All-Star Game as top vote-getters in first round of fan balloting

Springer drilled a 391-foot drive into the second deck in Toronto's five-run first inning, then added a 434-foot shot to center in the second.

Springer reached 250 career home runs with his second blast. It was his first multihomer game of the season and the 22nd of his career.

Both of Springer's homers came against Carlos Rodon. The struggling left-hander has allowed eight runs in back-to-back outings and 21 runs over his past three starts, all losses.

Rodon (9-5) gave up 10 hits and matched a career-worst by allowing eight earned runs in five innings. He walked one and struck out eight.

Reliever Phil Bickford left the bullpen and started jogging in when Yankees manager Aaron Boone came to the mound in the fifth, but Bickford turned around after Rodon talked Boone into letting him finish the inning.

Toronto's first five batters all reached safely and scored. Bo Bichette singled, Isiah Kiner-Falefa was hit by a pitch, Guerrero drove in a run with a broken-bat double and Justin Turner got an RBI when his slow roller bounced off first base, evading Ben Rice. Springer followed with his first home run.

New York infielder Gleyber Torres sat for the second straight day after also sitting out Wednesday's road loss to the Mets. Manager Aaron Boone said Torres could return Friday.

BRUISER

Kiner-Falefa was hit by pitches in the first, second and eighth innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: INF DJ LeMahieu (rest) was held out of the starting lineup. ... RHP Scott Effross (back surgery) struck out two in a scoreless inning at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

UP NEXT

LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 4.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for Toronto on Friday against former Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman (7-3, 3.15).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb