Paxton wins ninth straight start
TORONTO — James Paxton pitched five innings to win his ninth straight start, Brett Gardner homered twice and drove in five runs and the New York Yankees hit five homers in a 133 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
Gleyber Torres and Luke Voit also homered for the Yankees, going backtoback off righthander Brock Stewart in the fifth, as the AL East leaders won for the 14th time in 19 games.
Torres connected one inning after slipping while trying to make a throw to first and appearing to hurt his right leg or knee. Torres was checked on the field and stayed in to hit his 37th homer before being replaced by Tyler Wade in the sixth.
DJ LeMahieu had four hits for New York, his ALleading 58th multihit game of the season. The Yankees had 19 hits, matching their season high for a nineinning game.
New York failed to homer Friday, snapping a ninegame streak.The Yankees have 20 homers over their past seven games, and have hit multiple home runs in 14 of their past 19. They have an MLBbest 285 home runs this season, which is also a big league record for homers by any team in a year. Minnesota is second with 280.
Mike Ford hit the fifth and final home run Saturday, a tworun blast off Justin Shafer in New York’s fourrun ninth.
Paxton (146) allowed one run on three hits, becoming the first Yankees pitcher since Mike Mussina to win nine consecutive starts. The lefthander’s 14 wins are also a career best.
Mussina won his final two starts of the 2002 season, then seven straight to begin 2003. The last Yankees pitcher to win nine straight starts in the same season was Ron Guidry, who won 11 in a row in 1979.
Gardner homered off righthander Jacob Waguespack to begin the fourth, then added a threerun blast off Stewart in the fifth. He has 25 homers, extending his career high. It was the ninth multihomer game of Gardner’s career and his second this season. He also hit two at Detroit Tuesday.
Gardner has 20 career home runs against Toronto, more than any other opponent.
The veteran outfielder also made a great play in center, leaping into the scoreboard to catch a drive by Toronto’s Danny Jansen in the fifth. According to Statcast, Gardner ran 126 feet to make the play.
Waguespack (45) allowed three runs and seven hits in 32⁄3 innings. He is 04 with an 8.40 ERA in his past four starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: RHP Dellin Betances (lat) will fly to Toronto Saturday and is expected to be activated off the injured list Sunday, manager Aaron Boone said. Betances made his third rehab appearance with DoubleA Trenton Friday, allowing one run and two hits in one inning. He has not pitched for the Yankees this season. … SS Didi Gregorius got the day off. Gregorius played both games of Thursday’s doubleheader and played all 12 innings Friday.
Blue Jays: LHP Tim Mayza has a torn ligament in his left elbow and will undergo Tommy John surgery. Mayza came on in the 10th inning Friday and went down in pain after a wild ball four to the first batter he faced. Mayza has pitched in a teamhigh 68 games. He’s expected to miss the 2020 season. … RHP Jordan Romano left in the eighth after he was struck by Gardner’s liner and injured his right ankle as he fell. Romano had to be helped off the field. … OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the lineup as the designated hitter after missing 30 games because of a strained left quadriceps. Gurriel doubled in his first atbat and was hit by a pitch the second time up. He finished 2 for 3. … C Luke Maile (left oblique) was activated off the 10day injured list.