TORONTO — By avoiding the sweep of a three-game series with a 3-1 win on Sunday, the Blue Jays came out on top of their home-and-away series with the New York Yankees.
The Blue Jays swept the Yankees in a three-game series last weekend in The Bronx so Sunday’s win gave the Blue Jays a 4-2 edge in the six games.
The Yankees are a half game ahead of the second-place Blue Jays in the American League East.
The Blue Jays have done it mostly with the bats this season, but their recent surge that included an 11-game winning streak, has been the result of good pitching.
After the win over the Yankees on Sunday, the Blue Jays have had their starting pitcher allow three or fewer earned runs in 20 straight games, extending their club record.
“I think it speaks volumes about the adjustments they’ve been able to make, their talent level and what they can do when they’re going well,” said Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista, whose two-run homer made the difference Sunday. “Hopefully they can sustain this success and continue to ride that wave because if they do that it’s going to be fun last month and a half.”
Playing with a legitimate shot at a postseason place this late in the season is old stuff for the Yankees but new for many of the Blue Jays.
“It’s awesome,” Bautista said. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. I’m going to continue to enjoy it. I can’t really talk too much about how it feels for me. But I guarantee you that the fans are enjoying it, they’re loving it, and we really get to feel that energy from the crowd and how into the games they’ve been getting lately. I’m not going to complain about that.
“It’s been awesome, and we feel the support. The fans have got to be enjoying it, and we thank them for coming out and showing that love.”