Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Lourdes Gurriel and Randal Grichuk each homered as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays ended their six-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday.
Guerrero opened the three-game series by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs; he has gone deep three times in the last two games.
New York saw its six-game winning streak came to an end. Starting pitcher Corey Kluber (4-3) left after three innings due to tightness in his right shoulder. The right-hander will have an MRI on Wednesday.
Steven Matz (6-2) allowed one run on six hits, with a season-high 10 strikeouts, over 6 2/3 innings (112 pitches).
Yankees starters had held opponents scoreless for 37 1/3 consecutive innings before Guerrero ended the streak with a two-run homer into the Yankees’ bullpen in the third inning.
Guerrero’s major-league-leading 16th homer came off Kluber, who was making his first start since tossing a no-hitter May 19 against the Texas Rangers. Kluber gave up two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out five.
Michael King replaced Kluber and surrendered a solo homer to Gurriel with one out in the fourth. King allowed one run on six hits over three innings.
Toronto added to its lead with two runs in the seventh. The Blue Jays loaded the bases with two outs against Lucas Luetge before Grichuk and Rowdy Tellez scored on Gleyber Torres’ throwing error.
Matz struck out the side in the first inning and did not allow a runner to reach second base until Clint Frazier’s two-out double in the seventh. Kyle Higashioka then ended Matz’s outing with a run-scoring single.
Frazier had two hits for the Yankees, who placed infielder DJ LeMahieu on the paternity list before the contest. Aaron Judge extended his on-base streak to 16 games with a sixth-inning single.
Grichuk added a solo homer in the ninth off Justin Wilson before the Yankees pushed a run across in the bottom half when Rougned Odor scored on a fielding error.
Guerrero is 19-for-45 with eight homers and 15 RBIs over his last 11 games for Toronto, which collected 13 hits Tuesday.
–Field Level Media