Blue Jays beat Yankees 4-1 as Guerrero Jr. lands on concussion IL, Judge resumes rehab
Toronto won its 13th in 19 games Saturday, beating New York 4-1, but placed six-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the seven-day concussion IL after Friday's collision at third base with Yankees rookie George Lombard Jr.
Guerrero injury overshadows Toronto win
The Toronto Blue Jays placed six-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the seven-day concussion injured list Saturday, one day after he took a knee to the head from Yankees rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. during a chaotic sixth-inning play at third base in Friday's 3-1 Toronto win. Guerrero's helmet was dislodged on the collision; he scored the tying run but looked dazed after crossing the plate. Manager John Schneider said Guerrero had "a little bit of a headache" Friday and still had one Saturday.
He had a headache last night. I think it's one of those where the doctors wanted to see how he woke up today.
Guerrero, 27, is batting.263 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs in 115 games this season. Charles McAdoo started at first base in Guerrero's place Saturday and delivered, going 2-for-4 with a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning and an RBI single. The Blue Jays won 4-1 for their 13th victory in 19 games.
Saturday's game
McAdoo's seventh-inning double off the left-field wall scored pinch hitter Ernie Clement, who had singled on the first pitch from Brent Headrick (6-2) to open the frame. McAdoo and Nathan Lukes added RBIs off Tim Hill in a two-run eighth. Spencer Miles (5-2), the fifth of seven Blue Jays pitchers, worked one inning for the win. Louis Varland struck out the side in the ninth for his 28th save in 29 opportunities.
The Yankees managed four hits, all singles, and lost their third straight game. New York has scored two total runs across those three contests. Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, remaining winless in five career starts against Toronto.
- Guerrero collides with Lombard at third base, leaves game with headache; Blue Jays win 3-1
- Guerrero placed on 7-day concussion IL; Tiedemann makes MLB debut; Blue Jays win 4-1
- Series finale scheduled: Cease (7-5, 2.40 ERA) vs Weathers (5-7, 3.69)
Yankees' offensive futility
Aaron Boone said after Saturday's loss that he could "shake up the order a little bit" to address an offense that has produced two runs in three games despite strong pitching. The Yankees' staff owns a combined 3.28 ERA, the best in baseball, and starters have allowed two runs or fewer in 13 of their last 16 starts.
- Thursday vs SEA
- 0 runs
- Friday vs TOR
- 1 runs
- Saturday vs TOR
- 1 runs
Those guys are pitching amazing. Every guy that goes out there, putting up zeros, keeping us close in the game all the way to the end. So, yeah, I mean, it's frustrating.
Heliot Ramos, acquired from the San Francisco Giants before the trade deadline, is 2-for-32 (.063) with 11 strikeouts since joining the Yankees and is hitless in his last 24 plate appearances. The Yankees entered Friday hitting an MLB-worst.220 with runners in scoring position since Aaron Judge last played on June 1.
Judge and Tiedemann updates
Aaron Judge played catch and ran in New York on Friday, his first baseball activity since being cleared for light workouts on Aug. 5. The three-time AL MVP has not played since May 31 due to a broken right rib. Manager Aaron Boone said there is no timetable for Judge's return. Judge is hitting.248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs and a.907 OPS.
We expect him back, but we're in the early stages of baseball activity. Hopefully things continue to go well.
Left-hander Ricky Tiedemann, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, made his major league debut in relief. He allowed one run on a Spencer Jones leadoff single, a stolen base and a George Lombard Jr. single, then retired the next four batters. Toronto also selected outfielder Daz Cameron from Buffalo and designated right-hander Lazaro Estrada for assignment.
Playoff race
The Blue Jays sit within a game of the final AL wild-card spot following Friday's win, their closest position to a postseason berth in seven weeks. The surge comes despite a trade deadline that saw Kevin Gausman, Jeff Hoffman and Daulton Varsho depart, after which general manager Ross Atkins apologized to fans. Shane Bieber noted the clubhouse mood has shifted.
Just coming to the yard every day and late in games, we're starting to get that feeling. You know, anything can happen.
Sunday's series finale is scheduled to feature Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease (7-5, 2.40 ERA) against Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers (5-7, 3.69).
