Outfielder Carlos Beltran saved the Yankees from ignominy on Friday night, slugging a pinch-hit, go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning against reliever Aaron Sanchez in a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. Chase Headley had knocked in the Yankees’ first run of the game against starter David Price with a ground-rule double earlier that inning, marking the first time the Yankees had scored against the Blue Jays since the second inning on August 7, the first game of a three-game series. The Blue Jays had held them scoreless for 33 consecutive innings before Headley’s double.
The Blue Jays’ 11-game winning streak also ended on Friday night. Since shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s first game with the Blue Jays on July 29, the club had won 14 of 15 games. They went from 51-51 in third place and seven games out of first place to 64-52, leading the AL East by half a game over the Yankees entering Friday’s action. They’re now a half-game behind the Yankees.
Katie Sharp of River Ave Blues provided some interesting trivia from the game. Beltran’s pinch-hit homer was the second of his career, with the other occuring on May 18, 2003 against the Blue Jays. Beltran became the first Yankee with a go-ahead home run when trailing in the eighth inning or later on the road since Don Mattingly on July 24, 1994 against the then-California Angels.
Your Friday box scores and recaps:
Athletics 6, Orioles 8 (13 innings)