Gardner delivers for Yanks
Singles home go-ahead run in 10th as New York wins series in Toronto
Toronto — Having campaigned for an early start to Sunday's series finale in Toronto, the Yankees didn't want extra innings slowing down their departure.
Brett Gardner made sure that wasn't a problem.
Gardner hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 10th inning and New York beat the Blue Jays 2-1 for its fourth win in five games.
"To be able to scratch a run there in the 10th is about as good as we could have drawn it up," manager Aaron Boone said.
The game had been selected for broadcast on ESPN, meaning it would have started at 8 p.m., but was later moved back to its originally scheduled 1 p.m. start time. The change came after the Yankees took issue with the lack of turnaround time before their doubleheader at Baltimore on Monday, which begins at 4 p.m.
"We've got a busy day tomorrow and a tough week ahead of us," Gardner said. "It's nice that it didn't last too long."
The 10-inning affair was played in 2 hours, 51 minutes, giving the Yankees plenty of time to pack their bags and get airborne for Baltimore.
"I might eat some crab tonight," Boone joked.
Former Yankees reliever Tyler Clippard (4-3) hit New York's Greg Bird to begin the 10th, and Tyler Wade came on to pinch run. Austin Romine sacrificed to advance Wade to second, and Gardner followed with a single to left.
Chad Green (5-1) pitched one inning for the win and David Robertson finished for his second save in six opportunities. Regular closer Aroldis Chapman, who left Saturday's game because of a sore left knee, was available but did not pitch.
New York struck quickly against Blue Jays rookie left-hander Ryan Borucki. Aaron Judge hit a one-out single in the first and moved to third
on Giancarlo Stanton's double before scoring on Miguel Andujar's grounder.
Toronto catcher Russell Martin made an acrobatic play to end the first, almost mishandling a foul popup by Didi Gregorius but cradling the ball between his glove and chest protector as he fell backwards onto the turf.
Making his third career start, Borucki allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings. The left-hander struck out four of the final seven batters he faced.
"I did think he got better as the game went on," manager John Gibbons said. "He's showing me good things."
Yankees right-hander Domingo German held the Blue Jays scoreless until Kendrys Morales homered on a 3-2 pitch to begin the sixth, his 10th of the season. Morales became the fifth Cuban player to hit 200 career homers.
German allowed one run and four hits in six innings.
"I was feeling really good today, just had confidence in all my pitches," German said.
Trainer's room
Yankees: Boone said LHP Chapman (left knee) and OF Aaron Hicks (left hamstring) both felt better, one day after each was forced to leave the game with soreness. Hicks did not start Sunday, but could return for Monday's doubleheader at Baltimore.
Blue Jays: Toronto put RHP Rhiner Cruz (right groin) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled LHP Tim Mayza from Triple-A Buffalo.
Up next
Yankees: LHP CC Sabathia (6-3, 3.02) will start Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader at Baltimore, and RHP Luis Cessa (0-1, 5.00) will be promoted from Triple-A to start Game 2. Cessa has made five appearances for New York this season, including one start. Baltimore has not named a starter for Game 1. Orioles RHP Yefry Ramirez (0-2, 2.51) will start Game 2.
Blue Jays: After a day off Monday, the Blue Jays begin a two-game series at Atlanta on Tuesday. RHP Marcus Stroman (1-6, 6.50) starts for Toronto against Braves RHP Julio Teheran (66, 4.47). Stroman lost to the Mets last Wednesday, allowing six runs and six hits in 4 2-3 innings.