THE LATE SHOW
After trading zeroes for 12 innings, Blue Jays fall 3-0 to Yankees in 13.
For the second night in a row against a powerful Yankees lineup, a Blue Jays starter responded with a solid pitching performance in what has been a difficult season for the rotation. However, for the second game in a row a quality start yielded no decision, this time for Jays right-hander Sam Gaviglio.
Facing the Bronx Bombers in the second of a two-game series, the Jays lost 3-0 in 13 innings on a two-run blast off Joe Biagini by right fielder Aaron Judge, followed by a solo blast by Giancarlo Stanton in front of a crowd of 27,838. For Biagini, it was his fifth loss of the season and 10th straight since last July 26. The Jays’ record in extra innings dropped to 5-1.
Gaviglio pitched well enough to win, just like Marco Estrada the game before, but both came away empty-handed. He was matched pitch for pitch by Yankees righty Sonny Gray, who threw eight shutout innings.
The bottom line is, when you have starting pitcher who works quickly and throws strikes, the defenders are on their toes and eager to make plays behind him. Such has been the case with Gaviglio since his promotion to the majors on May 11. The 28-year-old made two relief appearances for the Jays before his first start on May 19 against Oakland. He shut out the A’s for 52⁄ innings 3 and left leading 4-0, but the A’s rallied to win. He had a quality start in his win against the Phillies on May 25 and has made four solid starts in a row.
“He’s a good little pitcher,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “His game is command. Since he’s been here with us, he’s been pretty damn good. He’s another guy who’ll throw anything at any time. He works fast. The guys love playing behind him and he’s a strike thrower. He’ll keep you off balance. I’ve been really impressed.”
Gaviglio pitched out of trouble in the fifth inning, leaving the bases loaded by inducing a ground ball from the dangerous Greg Bird. With two out and a man on, Gaviglio watched a chopper up the first-base line stay fair as Brett Gardner hustled to the bag for a hit. He escaped following a wild pitch and a walk to Judge.
He threw seven shutout in- nings, allowing three hits with three walks and four strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 2.51. Gaviglio threw 104 pitches, the first time this season that he’s gone beyond 88.
The Jays were no-hit through four innings by Gray, until Justin Smoak lined a double up the alley in right-centre field. They loaded the bases with one out and threatened to score the first run of the game, but Devon Travis grounded to second base as Gleyber Torres began an inning-ending double play.
The Blue Jays have gone 32 games without recording consecutive wins, the third-longest such streak in team history and their longest this century. The two longer streaks were both in 1979. They are also nine games below .500.