Yankees 7, Blue Jays 6: I Will Begrudgingly Grant That This Was An Excellent Baseball Game

 

Slovakia's own Adam Macko (left), who was congratulated
after his fine début inning by the most serious, straight-up
Vladdy you're ever likely to see

A return to the Bronx! Our first time back since eliminating the Yankees in the ALDS on a bullpen day to end a series that honestly I think I enjoyed a good deal more than the ALCS against the Mariners, somehow? (Vladdy's game-two grand slam turns out to be my favourite home run in Blue Jays history [I have seen all the big ones, of course, and an endless amount of the regular ones {also good}]). As to whether or not those heady games against the Yankees were preferable to the actual World Series that followed not all that long thereafter, that's actually an enormously complex topic, isn't it, one that certainly exceeds the bounds of our present endeavour, which is merely to talk about how last night's series-opener really was thoroughly entertaining baseball, even if it did not entirely go our way right at the end there (not entirely unlike the 2025 World Series, I suppose [no you're not over it]). Patrick Corbin gave us four innings, settling in somewhat after the earliest possible jitter (a first-pitch leadoff homerun struck by the veteran Paul Goldschmidt, who continues to very quietly assemble an enormously plausible Hall of Fame case), but did, in the final analysis allow three over the fullness of those four. Not to worry though! On account of Ernie Clement's three-run homer! And George Springer's solo shot! Among other excellent happenings (including Springer's 1500th career hit)! But after solid work by first Braydon Fisher and then the débuting Slovakian/Irish/Canadian WBC legend (in that he got big outs against Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Aaron judge in that context earlier this spring) Adam Macko, the seventh inning fell to our old friend Yariel Rodriguez, or I should say the final out of the seventh inning fell to our old friend Yariel Rodriguez, and to his credit he did secure it! Alas that the Yankees put up four runs during Yariel's quest for it, though. Just as rough as rough gets, as far as third-of-an-inning outings go. Let us note, though, a fine eighth from Jeff Hoffman, and a spirited little rally in the top of the ninth to bring Vladdy to the plate with a chance to tie it up (which, in this instance, he did not). Tonight though! You'll see! They'll all see! I bet!

KS