The visiting New York Yankees ended a four-game losing streak with a season-best offensive explosion against the Toronto Blue Jays that they will try to carry over to Saturday afternoon. The Yankees hammered out 18 hits in a 16-5 victory over Toronto Friday night to gain a split of the first two games of the four-game series. It was the Yankees' highest run total since they scored 16 against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 6, 2022.
Juan Soto had a three-run home run for the Yankees to give him 20 for the season but more encouraging could be the two-run homer, two hits and three RBIs by second baseman Gleyber Torres. Torres, whose homer was his eighth of the season, had been kept out of the previous two games because he was struggling offensively and defensively. He had just two hits in 29 at-bats in the prior nine games.
"Hopefully a little building block for him," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after the game. Before the game Boone said: "We all know what (Torres is) capable of, he knows what he's capable of. That doesn't mean you go out and get a result right away.
It's too fickle of a game in that way. Hopefully just in a good place physically and mentally to go out there and contribute to winning baseball." Another encouraging sign was DJ LeMahieu's first extra-base hit of the season, an RBI double.
The Yankees are scheduled to start left-hander Nestor Cortes (4-6, 3.40 ERA) on Saturday. He is 2-2 with a 3.
55 ERA in 11 career games (five starts) against Toronto. The Blue.
