Yankees spoil Jays’ season-opener

TORONTO — J.A. Happ threw 96 pitches in Toronto’s opening day loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon.

He was happy with all but one of them.

Happ missed on a fastball to Giancarlo Stanton in the first inning and the 2017 NL MVP launched it over the right-centre field fence for a two-run homer, putting the Yankees up early en route to a 6-1 win over the Blue Jays. Stanton, the Yankees’ prized off-season acquisition, homered twice in the game and drove in four runs in his New York debut.

“I tried to throw a two-seamer and I just pulled it a little bit. That’s a pitch I’d like to have back,” said Happ, who threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned), four hits and one walk while striking out five in his first career opening day start.

Catcher Russell Martin agreed with the veteran left-hander’s assessment.

“Really if there was one pitch we could have back it would be the one to Stanton. Kind of a two-seamer away that pulled and caught the middle of the plate and he put a good swing on it,” Martin said. “But overall I liked what he did. We just didn’t score enough runs for him.”

Luis Severino had a lot to do with that.

The Yankees starter struck out seven and held Toronto to just one hit and three walks over

5 2/3 innings. Brett Gardner also homered and Gary Sanchez drove in another run for New York (1-0).

Kevin Pillar supplied Toronto’s (0-1) offence with a solo homer off reliever Dellin Betances in the eighth inning.