Bichette, Gausman Shine as Jays Top Yankees 4-1

Summary:
- Bo Bichette’s clutch two-run double sparked a four-run fifth inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Kevin Gausman struck out eight over seven strong innings, allowing just one run.
- The Jays extend their win streak to four and move four games ahead of the New York Yankees in AL East.
The Toronto Blue Jays kicked off their three-game set with the New York Yankees in style Monday night, riding a four-run fifth inning to a 4-1 victory at a packed Rogers Centre.
Bo Bichette came through with the big hit of the night, a two-run double that finally cracked the baseball game open and had the sellout crowd of 41,786 roaring.
“It was the hit we needed”, said manager John Schneider of Bichette’s clutch knock, which also lifted his average with runners in scoring position to an even .400. “He thrives in those situations”.
Myles Straw kept the momentum going moments later, lining an RBI single to bring Bichette around.
Then, with two outs, Leo Jimenez reached on a throwing error from Anthony Volpe, allowing Straw to score and cap the four-run frame.
The Yankees’ defense faltered badly that inning, with third baseman Oswald Peraza also misfiring on an earlier throw that turned a routine grounder into two bases for Straw.
Gausman “Didn’t Flinch”
Kevin Gausman also had a spectacular game. The 34-year-old veteran right-hander born in Centennial, Colorado, went seven strong innings, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Gausman only allowed a solo home run to Giancarlo Stanton in the fourth, and otherwise kept the Yankees in check.
He also worked out of a tense, scoreless third inning by striking out Jazz Chisholm Jr. after falling behind 2-0, getting him to foul tip a splitter for the third strike.
“He didn’t flinch”, Schneider said of Gausman’s poise in that key moment.
The bullpen trio of Brendon Little, Yariel Rodriguez and Jeff Hoffman combined for two shutout innings to nail down the win.
On the other side, Carlos Rodon struggled through five innings, allowing four runs, though only two were earned, on six hits and five walks while fanning four. The Yankees’ bullpen of Scott Effross and JT Brubaker was solid in relief, but by then, the damage was done.
The victory pushed Toronto (59-41) four games ahead of New York (55-45) in the American League East and extended the Jays’ win streak to four.
Next up, Max Scherzer takes the hill for the Blue Jays as the series continues Tuesday, looking to extend Toronto’s home winning streak to 12. The Yankees counter with Cam Schlittler.