Blue Jays come up big late to defeat Yankees
TORONTO -- Kevin Pillar singled home the go-ahead run, Darwin Barney added a two-run single in the three-run seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 4-1 on Tuesday night.
The Blue Jays (28-26) have won the first two games of a three-game series with the Yankees (24-27).
Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ allowed four hits, two walks and one run in six innings. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.
New York left-hander CC Sabathia (3-4) allowed five hits, one walk and two runs in six-plus innings. He struck out four in taking his second straight loss in the past week to Toronto.
Justin Smoak homered for the Blue Jays.
Rookie right-hander Joe Biagini (3-1) replaced Happ in the seventh inning and pitched around a single by Didi Gregorius to pick up the win.
Right-hander Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth inning to earn his 12th save of the season, allowing a single.
Edwin Encarnacion led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left center to start the winning rally. Right-hander Dellin Betances replaced Sabathia.
Betances struck out Smoak and retired Russell Martin on a fly to the warning track in left.
Pillar singled to right to score Encarnacion and move Travis to third. Pillar stole second and Barney singled to right to score two runs and give the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead.
Right-hander Jesse Chavez pitched a perfect eighth that ended with Barney, the shortstop playing in a shift, making a spectacular catch of a foul ball near the barrier in right field on Carlos Beltran.
Right-hander Kirby Yates pitched the eighth for New York.
The Yankees stranded two runners in the first inning after Rob Refsnyder doubled with one out and Carlos Beltran walked with two out.
They scored one run in the second. Chase Headley led off with a double and took third on an infield single to second by Austin Romine. Headley scored when Aaron Hicks grounded to second, forcing Romine at second base. Hicks beat the throw to first, avoiding the double play.
Smoak tied the game with two out in the fourth on his fifth homer of the season. The previous batter, Edwin Encarnacion, grounded into a double play following Josh Donaldson's leadoff single.
NOTES: The Blue Jays obtained RHP Jason Grilli from the Braves plus cash considerations for RHP Sean Ratcliffe. Grilli, 39, was 1-2 with two saves and a 5.29 ERA in 21 games for Atlanta. ... Yankees INF/OF Dustin Ackley (torn labrum in right shoulder) has opted for season-ending surgery. He was injured Sunday. ... Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis returned Tuesday after getting Monday off. It was his sixth game since returning Thursday from the disabled list, where he started the season after having shoulder surgery in November. ... LHP Richard Bleier, 29, became the 12th Yankees pitcher since 1913 to make his major league debut after turning 29 in the 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Monday. He used three pitches to end the eighth inning on two groundouts. He became the 20th pitcher used this year by the Yankees. ... New York DH Alex Rodriguez, 0-for-14 against Toronto LHP J.A. Happ, was not in the lineup for the second straight game. INF Rob Refsnyder started in right field and RF Carlos Beltran was the DH. ... Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (3-0, 2.89 ERA) faces Blue Jays RHP Aaron Sanchez (4-1, 3.29 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday.