Aaron Hicks’ bat, glove lead Yankees past hot-hitting Blue Jays

Aaron Hicks hit a go-ahead two-run homer and made a leaping catch in his first left-field begin in 4 years, main the New York Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 on Tuesday night time.

New York scored first for the primary time in 5 video games this season when Hicks drove a 2-0 slider from Yusei Kikuchi (0-1) into the right-center subject seats within the second inning, Hicks’ first dwelling run since final April 30.

“I hit it nicely however I didn’t assume it was going to exit,” Hicks mentioned. “I believed I’d have the ability to get it off the wall or at the least have the ability to have a sacrifice fly.”

Nestor Cortes and 4 relievers mixed on a five-hitter, quieting a Blue Jays’ offense that produced 23 runs and 38 hits within the first 4 video games.

Hicks, who didn’t play after Might 12 final 12 months due to wrist damage that wanted surgical procedure, had not began in left since Sept. 29, 2017.

With two outs and none on within the second, the Yankees moved second baseman Gleyber Torres to close the left-field line with Matt Chapman on the plate as a part of a four-man outfield that noticed Hicks stationed in left-center.

Hicks took a step in and made a slight bounce for the catch.

“Simply my first route, it was type of shaky at first, however as soon as I began to get a little bit bit extra snug on the market, it was all proper, ” Hicks mentioned. “The four-man outfield type of messed me up however total, I felt prefer it was fairly good.”

“About gave me a coronary heart assault there,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned with fun. “The four-man labored nicely there as a result of we have been well-positioned, however I believe he misinterpret it and turned it into an excellent catch to hold on.”

Then within the backside half, the switch-hitter’s drive from the fitting aspect of the plate ended the Yankees’ 15-inning scoreless streak.

Cortes allowed three hits in 4 1/3 innings, struck out 5 and walked none. The quickest of his 72 pitches was 93.6 mph.

“It’s enjoyable to compete towards them,” Cortes mentioned. “They’re actually good hitters. I respect them and I simply go on the market and do a job.”

Clay Holmes (1-0) adopted with 1 2/3 hitless innings, Miguel Castro labored round a two-hit error within the seventh and Jonathan Loáisiga wanted one pitch to retire Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to strand two within the eighth.

Aroldis Chapman, throwing at as much as 100.8 mph, struck out two within the ninth.

New York added a run within the fourth when DJ LeMahieu scored from second on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Heineman, whose pickoff try sailed over Guerrero at first and into proper subject.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a 116.2 mph sacrifice fly within the eighth.

Kikuchi, making his Blue Jays debut after signing a $36 million, three-year deal contract, gave up three runs — two earned – and 5 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

“Clearly I’d have favored to go deeper within the ballgame,” Kikuchi mentioned by a translator. “I really feel like I fell behind within the depend typically early however for essentially the most half I simply really feel like I wished go deeper within the ballgame.”

Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made a leaping catch on Aaron Choose in entrance of the fence after Josh Donaldson opened the sport with a stroll. Donaldson was thrown out on the plate by proper fielder Teoscar Hernández’s one-hop throw on Anthony Rizzo’s double.

ON THE FARM

SS Anthony Volpe, the thirtieth total choose within the 2019 newbie draft, was 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in his dwelling debut with the Double-A Somerset Patriots of the Jap League. He’s off to a 3 for 15 begin,

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: C Danny Jansen (strained left indirect) will likely be out “a number of weeks” supervisor Charlie Montoyo mentioned. … RHP Ryan Borucki (strained proper hamstring) threw 30 pitches in a simulated recreation on the spring coaching complicated in Dunedin. Florida. … RHP Nate Pearson (mononucleosis) threw from 90 ft.

YANKEES: An MRI on LHP Jordan Montgomery’s knee got here again clear and he’s anticipated to make his subsequent begin Friday in Baltimore. Montgomery was hit on a knee by Xander Bogaerts’ 103 mph comebacker Sunday.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP José Berríos (0-0, 108.00 ERA) retired one of many seven batters he confronted, permitting 4 runs and three hits Friday towards Texas. He threw 34 pitches within the shortest outing of his profession.

Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (0-0, 6.75) allowed all three runs earlier than getting a single out and pitched 4 innings Friday towards Boston. “I simply had numerous adrenaline and type of spun my tires there for a minute, so I wanted to seek out the rhythm and tempo to type of keep inside myself a little bit,” Cole mentioned Tuesday.