Yusei Kikuchi’s First Win Since Aug. 2; Blue Jays Beat Yankees 7-1
11:48 JST, September 20, 2023
The Blue Jays (84-67) won their fourth straight game and currently own the American League’s second wild card, sitting 1 1/2 games ahead of Seattle and Texas. The Yankees (76-75) dropped 6 1/2 games behind the Mariners and Rangers, who began the day tied for the third and final wild-card spot.
Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi (10-6) allowed one run and four hits in five-plus innings for his first win since Aug. 2. He was pulled because of a left upper trap muscle cramp after being checked out by a trainer.
On his 34th birthday, George Springer hit his 57th career leadoff homer. Springer also drew a key walk against Clarke Schmidt (9-9) ahead of Bichette’s first home run since Aug. 20.
Alejandro Kirk padded the lead with a two-run homer and Kevin Kiermaier scored on an error by New York rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe in Toronto’s three-run ninth.
Bichette reached base three times and took third when third baseman Oswald Peraza committed a throwing error on a grounder by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the fourth. After Peraza’s miscue, Bichette gave Toronto a 2-1 lead when Biggio’s base hit fell in front of center fielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Schmidt was one pitch away from a perfect fifth but ended up issuing four straight balls to Springer before Bichette went deep into the right-center-field seats.
Kikuchi was lifted after walking DJ LeMahieu to start the sixth. Yimi Garcia got Giancarlo Stanton to bounce into a double play to end the inning.
Trevor Richards and Jordan Hicks each pitched a 1-2-3 inning before Kirk’s homer in the ninth put the game away.
Gleyber Torres hit an RBI double in the first as the Yankees dropped back to one game over .500.
Schmidt allowed four runs and four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out one and walked two.
"Sports" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Shohei Ohtani Defied Ex-Interpreter’s Request to Cover Up Fraud, Report
-
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
-
Shohei Ohtani Hits 176 MLB Homers; the Most by a Japanese-Born Player Surpassing Hideki Matsui
-
Japanese Public Divided Over Hosting Future Olympic Games As Corruption, Bid-Rigging Scandals Blunt Enthusiasm
-
Here’s How Investigators Allege Ippei Mizuhara Stole $16 million From Shohei Ohtani
JN ACCESS RANKING
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’
- JAL Airplane Experiences Radio Malfunction During Flight, Lands Safely By Relying on Light Signals