TORONTO — Brian McCann tied the score with a sixth-inning homer, Jacoby Ellsbury singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh and the New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Jose Bautista hit a two-run double in the third inning to give the Blue Jays (3-5) a 2-1 lead in the opener of the three-game series against the Yankees (4-2).
The Blue Jays have lost three of the first four games on a six-game homestand.
Neither starter factored in the decision.
Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka allowed three hits, four walks and two runs while striking out six in five innings.
Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez gave up two runs (one earned), three hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five.
McCann hit his second homer of the season on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the sixth to tie the score at 2.
Right-hander Johnny Barbato (1-0) replaced Tanaka to open the sixth and allowed only a walk in one inning.
Left-hander Brett Cecil (0-2) took the loss for Toronto, allowing a leadoff single to Chase Headley followed by a walk to Starlin Castro in the seventh.
Didi Gregorius sacrificed the runners to second and third. Ellsbury blooped a 3-2 pitch to shallow left to put New York into the lead.
Cecil struck out Brett Gardner as Ellsbury stole second. Right-hander Jesse Chavez retired Alex Rodriguez on a grounder to end the inning.
Left-hander Chasen Shreve walked Josh Donaldson with two outs in the seventh and the Yankees brought in right-hander Dellin Betances to face Bautista. Donaldson stole second as Bautista worked the count to 3-1 before Betances came back to end the inning with a called third strike on Bautista.
Left-hander Andrew Miller pitched the ninth for his second save of the season.
The Yankees scored an unearned run in the second.
Sanchez walked McCann, induced a comebacker from Carlos Beltran and walked Headley. Sanchez’s throw to second on a pickoff attempt went into center field for an error that put the runners at second and third.
McCann scored on Castro’s groundout to second.
Bautista hit a two-run double in the third to give the Blue Jays the lead. The drive to center scored Kevin Pillar, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Donaldson, who singled.
NOTES: The Blue Jays extended their agreement with Triple-A Buffalo by two years through the 2018 season, it was announced Tuesday. … Stephen Brooks has resigned as Blue Jays senior vice president of business operations, the club confirmed. Brooks oversaw the installation of the dirt infield at Rogers Centre during the offseason. … Yankees RHP Nick Rumbelow will have Tommy John surgery on Friday after injuring his elbow while pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. … The Yankees announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with the Tampa Sports Authority to remain at Steinbrenner Field through 2046 with a $40 million renovation of the facility to be completed by March. … The Blue Jays will start LHP J.A. Happ (0-0, 3.00 ERA) against Yankees RHP Michael Pineda (1-0, 10.80 ERA) in the second game of a three-game series.