BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead homer in a four-run seventh inning and the New York Yankees pulled off a wacky triple play Thursday night in an 8-4 win over the reeling Toronto Blue Jays.
Stanton broke a 3-all tie with his 13th homer, an opposite-field, two-run shot off Anthony Castro (1-2). The triple play in the first inning marked the first time the storied Yankees franchise turned two in one year.
Chris Gittens came off the bench to drive in three runs, and Gio Urshela had three hits and scored three runs for New York, which swept the three-game series and finished 5-3 on its road trip.
Chad Green (1-4) was the winning pitcher.
“This was a big series for us,” manager Aaron Boone said. “To come up here, coming off a tough weekend, to really bounce back and have some gut-check wins, come from behind and have people contributing, it was exciting.”
Reese McGuire had three hits and Santiago Espinal scored twice for Toronto, which has lost four straight and six of eight. Randal Grichuk gave the Blue Jays a 4-3 lead in the sixth with an RBI single, bringing them back from a 3-0 deficit.
Later in the sixth, Aaron Judge robbed Cavan Biggio of a home run, reaching over the right-field wall to record a 358-foot out.
A few minutes later, Stanton hit his decisive homer.
“He saved two runs and I hit two runs,” Stanton said. “We basically did the same thing. I let a fastball get deep and used the whole field.”
Judge's catch wasn't the Yankees' only significant defensive play, as New York turned its triple play mere weeks after pulling one off May 21 against the Chicago White Sox.
Yankees starter Michael King had runners on second and third with no outs when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a tapper to King, who threw to first for the out. First baseman DJ LeMahieu then threw to shortstop Gleyber Torres at second base, with both Toronto runners in limbo.
Torres threw to catcher Gary Sánchez, who tossed to third baseman Urshela for the tag on Marcus Semien between third and home. Urshela alertly threw back to Torres, who tagged Bo Bichette as he slid into third on a close play that was reviewed.
“I called it my Houdini act,” King said. “It's good luck. A little poor baserunning by them, and I'm glad I escaped it.”
“We didn't do a good job on that," Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “Young kids are going to make mistakes. After that, I'm proud that we regrouped and had a lead."
The 1-3-6-2-5-6 sequence was the first time that combination was used in any of the 726 triple plays in major league history, per a list maintained by Baseball Almanac.
“Everybody got involved and played good catch," Boone said. “Who knows where that inning goes if Vladimir gets on?”
For his part, Urshela was trying to keep things simple.
“We were just trying to get an out,” Urshela said. “I tagged the runner, turned around and had the opportunity to get the third out.”
Blue Jays left-hander Taylor Saucedo made his major league debut and had a strikeout in one inning.
RIGHT AT HOME
The three-game series, played at Toronto’s temporary home in Buffalo, drew crowds predominantly clad in Yankees gear and cheering as if the Blue Jays were the visitors. Both managers noticed the difference.
“It’s been definitely unique,” Boone said. “You can definitely feel their presence and the excitement. It’s been nice to hear them behind us and know how excited they are to see us come in. That’s been pretty cool to witness.”
Montoyo had a more resigned reaction.
“The first week here it was really cool, the support we had,” he said. “It is what is is and we’re gonna deal with it. But of course it felt weird.”
YANKEES DEAL FORD
The Yankees traded 1B Mike Ford to the Tampa Bay Rays for $100,000 and a player to be named. Ford was designated for assignment Saturday when reliever Zack Britton was activated from the injured list.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: Torres left after three innings with lower back stiffness and will undergo further evaluation Friday. Boone said Torres was doing well after getting treatment and it didn't appear to be a serious injury. ... RHP Darren O’Day (strained rotator cuff) had his latest bullpen and will throw another one Friday or Saturday before starting a rehab assignment. ... LHP Justin Wilson (strained right hamstring) is slated to do some bullpen work Friday.
Blue Jays: RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (strained oblique) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the roster for OF Jared Hoying, who was promoted to the active roster. ... RHP Rafael Dolis (strained right middle finger), who left Wednesday’s game after four pitches, was placed on the 10-day IL. ... OF Teoscar Hernández was placed on the paternity list. ... OF George Springer (quad strain) played six innings in center field in a rehab game for Triple-A Buffalo and went 1 for 4 with an RBI double in Rochester. He is 2 for 12 in three rehab games.
UP NEXT
The Yankees return home Friday to face Oakland. RHP Jameson Taillon (1-4, 5.74 ERA) pitches against Athletics RHP James Kaprielian (3-1, 2.51).
Toronto travels to Baltimore, where LHP Robbie Ray (4-2, 3.45) opposes Orioles LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4-4, 4.83) in the series opener.
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