Blue Jays, Stroman suffer road loss to potent Yankees
Toronto continues to struggle in 5th straight defeat, doubled 6-3
NEW YORK — Masahiro Tanaka pitched seven sharp innings for his second straight win following a long slump, and the New York Yankees beat the skidding Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Monday night.
Hours after announcing that they’ll both compete in the Home Run Derby next week, All-Star sluggers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez sparked New York’s offence.
Consecutive singles by those Baby Bombers in the first helped the Yankees scratch out two runs against Marcus Stroman.
Judge’s leadoff single and Sanchez’s double set up a four-run eighth that included Chase Headley’s double off Ryan Tepera to score two.
Headley was hit by a pitch to force home a run in the first and finished with three RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury drew a basesloaded walk from Stroman (8-5), who grew up on Long Island about 55 miles from Yankee Stadium.
Last-place Toronto has now dropped five straight and nine of 11.
Tanaka (7-7) turned in his third consecutive strong outing — a big positive for the banged-up Yankees as they chase AL Eastleading Boston. Second-place New York won for only the sixth time in 20 games.
Tanaka allowed one run and five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. He was coming off a win last Wednesday at the Chicago White Sox — his first since May 8.
Before that, Tanaka was 0-6 in a stretch of eight starts.
New York scored its last two runs in the eighth on an error by catcher Luke Maile. They came in handy when Aroldis Chapman gave up two in the ninth before closing it out.
With a runner on, Headley went to his knees to snag a game-ending line drive.
Struggling reliever Dellin Betances — another one of New York’s five All-Stars — struck out two in a scoreless eighth to protect a 2-1 lead. He was aided by Sanchez, who threw out Josh Donaldson trying to steal for an inning-ending double play.
Darwin Barney had an RBI single in the seventh off Tanaka, who snared Maile’s sharp comebacker with a runner on second to end the inning and keep the Yankees ahead.
Pinch-hitter Kevin Pillar had an RBI double in the ninth, and Barney followed with a run-scoring single.
Stroman, bothered at one point by what appeared to be a torn nail, gave up two runs in five innings. He threw 79 pitches.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: With afternoon games coming up the next two days, SS Troy Tulowitzki, C Russell Martin and Pillar were rested.
“They need it,” manager John Gibbons said. “I’ve got to do what’s best for them.”
RHP Aaron Sanchez (blister) rejoined the team and could come off the DL later this week to start at home against Houston. Sanchez made his second minor league rehab start Sunday, allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Buffalo. He struck out four, walked three and threw 76 pitches.
Gibbons said he hopes reliever Joe Smith (right shoulder) will be able to come off the DL by the end of the week or soon after the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
CC Sabathia (7-2, 3.46 ERA) comes off the disabled list for the banged-up Yankees to start today against fellow lefty J.A. Happ (2-5, 3.71) and the Blue Jays. Sabathia has been sidelined since June 14 with a strained left hamstring.
“I feel good. I’m ready to go, so I’m excited to be out there,” Sabathia said.
New York also expects to activate reliever Adam Warren from the DL before the game. Warren has been out since June 16 because of right shoulder inflammation.
Blue Jays acquire catcher, Montero, from Chicago Cubs
TORONTO — The Blue Jays acquired catcher Miguel Montero and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs on Monday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Montero has a .286 average with four homers and eight RBIs in 44 games this season. He was designated for assignment last Wednesday after he blamed pitcher Jake Arrieta for allowing seven stolen bases in a 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals the day before.
Chicago is paying Toronto US$6,446,710 in seven instalments through Oct. 6 as part of the trade, covering all but $515,039 of the $6,961,749 remaining of Montero’s $14-million salary this year. He is eligible for free agency after the World Series.
The 33-year-old Venezuelan has played in 1,149 big-league games since making his debut with Arizona in 2006. Montero spent parts of nine seasons with the Diamondbacks and was in his third season with the Cubs.
Montero’s time in Chicago will be remembered for a huge hit late in Game 7 of the World Series that helped end the Cubs’ famous championship drought last fall.
However, tensions had been simmering since spring training over his role, and Montero had thrown out just one of 31 potential base stealers this season.
The Blue Jays transferred outfielder Darrell Ceciliani to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Right-hander Mike Bolsinger was selected from triple-A Buffalo and right-hander Glenn Sparkman was designated for assignment.
Also Monday, Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna was named American League reliever of the month. He converted all eight save opportunities over 12 appearances in June.
Osuna allowed four hits, one earned run and a walk over 11 1/3 innings while striking out 19 batters.
Grilli in Rangers’ bullpen after trade from Toronto
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jason Grilli has joined the Texas Rangers, providing a muchneeded veteran presence in a bullpen that has struggled to close games.
Grilli was added to the Rangers’ roster on Monday, a day after being acquired in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays.
“As a veteran, it’s humbling in a sense, one of those things that if you love and respect the game, you just pass on what the love and respect is, and that’s all I would like to do with these young guys,” the 40-year-old Grilli said.
Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Grilli will pitch in later innings and “kind of help glue some of those other guys together.”
The manager said Grilli has a wealth of experience that he is willing to share after pitching in pretty much every reliever role.
The Rangers have a majors-high 17 blown saves this season, matching their total from all of 2016.
Grilli is in his 15th major league season spent with nine teams, including part of 2009 in Texas. He made 26 appearances for the Blue Jays this year, and was 2-4 with a 7.97 ERA before being designated for assignment last Tuesday.
Toronto sent Grilli to Texas for minor league outfielder Eduard Pinto and cash. The Blue Jays will send Texas $991,803 on Sept. 30 as part of the trade, and that will cover more than half of the $1,740,437 that remained of Grilli’s $3.5 million salary this year.