by Brittany Melosh, staff reporter
New York Yankees have had a variety of wins and losses this season; 33 wins out of 61 games, but their last few games against the Toronto Blue Jays have surpassed their usual stats. Out of four games against the Blue Jays, the Yankees have won three by impressive means.
In the first of the four games, Derek Jeter had hit the last home run of his career. It was also the first time in fourteen months that Jeter got to circle the bases. The home run flew into the left-field seats and gave them a 3-2 win.
At that, the crowd was ecstatic, as were many fans at the striking performance of Yankee number 2. It was a good last home run for Jeter’s career.
“I’m glad that he got to run around the bases and win the game for them” junior Chris Stena said.
Their next game, a 5-3 win, sent Toronto into one of it’s worst losses of the season. The first inning started off with a 2-1 score in favor of the Blue Jays, but the score evened out and then started leaning towards the Yankees in the third inning when Jeter scored two points.
Two more were scored in the next inning. Jacoby Ellsbury, number 22 who plays center field, started off his turn strong with a home run, but later sprained his right hamstring. Joe Girardi, the team’s manager, told the media that Ellsbury may be done for the season as a result of the injury.
“I didn’t really like the way he ran off second (on the final out of the inning). That concerned me and that’s why I took him out.” Joe Girardi said.
Ellsbury sprained his hamstring in the fourth inning while running to first base. It’s never good to play with an injury, especially when it’s a hamstring. There is the potential for worse harm.
Toronto scored one more in the fifth inning, but the Yankees still won 5-3.
“The Yankees are doing a pretty good job this season. I’m happy they’re pulling through,” junior Sara Doran said.
In the third game against Toronto, the Yankees suffered a 6-3 loss, with Toronto scoring one right off the bat. Marcus Stroman pitched as three more were scored while the Yankees scored two. In the top of the 7th inning, Jose Bautista, Toronto number 19 and right fielder, hit a home run to the right against Pitcher Chase Whitley.
At the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees started fighting for the win as Jeter doubled to the left and outfielder Brett Gardner scored, but to no avail since they were still two points behind. The game ended in a loss for the Yankees.
Tables turned in the next and last game against the Blue Jays where the Yankees scored a solid 5-2 win. The game started out in a tie when shortstop Jose Reyes of Toronto and catcher Brian McCann of the Yankees both scored in the first inning. The game continued without points until the bottom of the 5th when Brett Gardner hit a home run 335 feet to the right
All the real action started in the bottom of the 7th, though, when Jeter, Gardner, and McCann all helped to bump the score up to five points. Later, Reyes scores again and the game ends up in favor of the Yankees with a 5-2 score.
Yankees have met the satisfaction of their fans this season, balancing an almost even number of wins and losses, but their games against the Blue Jays showed that they are capable of more wins than losses.
