Toronto Blue Jays Sweep Front-Running New York Yankees

The Toronto Blue Jays are on a hot streak and have the New York Yankees looking in their rear view mirror. Toronto came into Yankee Stadium this weekend and swept a three game series from the Yankees to cut New York’s lead in the American League East to just 1 1/2 games. Toronto has won their last eight games.

On Sunday, it was Marco Estrada who held the Yankees offense down as he pitched 6 1/3 solid innings and then the Blue Jays bullpen took over and closed out the 2-0 victory. Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista provided the offense with a solo home run each. Masahiro Tanaka pitched six decent innings for the Yankees, but came away with the loss.

The Blue Jays acquired Estrada this past offseason when they traded Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers for him. Estrada has been on a roll as of late, winning nine of his last 13 starts. He struggled in the month of May with a record of 0-3 and an earned run average of 5.02, but now he has put that behind him.

Estrada is just one of several transactions that have been paying off for the Blue Jays. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has fit in nicely since he was acquired from the Colorado Rockies at the non-waiver trade deadline. The Blue Jays also swooped in and traded for ace David Price, who, as reported on earlier at the Inquisitr, might just stay in Toronto after this season. Even 42-year-old LaTroy Hawkins has chipped in with five scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The Jays also recently added Cliff Pennington from the Arizona Diamondbacks, so we’ll soon see if the Blue Jays magic touch works on utility infielders as well.

Sunday was just a bad day all around for the Yankees. They lost their third straight game at home and when a fan threw Bautista’s home run ball back onto the field it hit Brett Gardner in the back of the neck. As ESPN reported Gardner was able to stay in the game, but imagine if Gardner had been injured because of this silly little tradition of throwing an opponent’s home run ball back? Yankee fans would look pretty stupid.

These two teams will meet again next weekend in Toronto for a three game set. Before that series the Blue Jays will host the Oakland A’s for three games starting on Tuesday. Meanwhile the Yankees will hit the road and take on the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Who do you think will win the A.L. East the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, or another team?

[Image by Elsa/Getty Images]