Yankee Stadium fan throws back HR ball, drills Brett Gardner in back

With newcomer Troy Tulowitzki hitting in front of Donaldson in the batting order at leadoff and the always-dangerous Jose Bautista hitting number three, Donaldson said the fact that he is surrounded by hitters ensures he will see better pitches early on. At 1-4 through their first five games, with their defense looking like Swiss cheese and their bats silent, the Yankees looked like they were in for a long year. The sweep left the Jays trailing the American League East-leading Yankees by 1-1/2 games.

“Incredible, ” Estrada said. It’s a great and glorious ride. “You’re going to go through good times, bad times, and you’ve just got to come back and play well when we go to Cleveland and go from there”. As Yankee analyst Jack Curry astutely pointed out when it comes to what he calls an “idiotic” thing to do, all that happens when a fan throws the ball back is that the ball boy gives it to another fan.

Estrada (10-6) helped the Blue Jays get their first series sweep in New York since May 22-25, 2003, when Roy Halladay, Kelvim Escobar, Cory Lidle and Doug Davis were winning pitchers. “We’ve got everything. When you’re out there pitching, it gives you all the confidence in the world”.

Even so, Gardner still said he didn’t have a problem with the tradition.

“It’s alright, I’ve got a hard head”, joked Gardner, who had a little red welt on his head after Sunday’s game. General manager Brian Cashman was interested in Price, according to Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, but Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was quicker on the trigger, wowing the Tigers with a package of blue-chip talent. A walk to Beltran and a single by Chase Headley in the 7th.

Roberto Osuna worked a ideal ninth for his 10th save.

Donaldson homered into the Yankees’ bullpen in right-center on the seventh pitch from Tanaka (8-5). Johnny Giavotella added three more hits to the Angels’ 12-hit attack. He was relieved after 80 pitches.

The current Blue Jays team and the team it was two weeks ago – it’s like the before-and- after photos on Instagram of your friend who took up CrossFit and ate only celery and whey protein for a few months. The Yankees do supposedly reserve the right to eject any fan throwing a ball onto the field, but the rule would seem to be very loosely enforced. The umpires discussed the belated appeal for a double play for a couple of minutes before ruling the game was over.

Kang greeted reliever Joel Peralta with his ninth homer of the season.

The only run off Hand came on a solo homer by left fielder Jonny Gomes, his fifth, in the seventh inning.

It put Toronto ahead by two runs in an eventual 2-0 shutout. 410 with runners in scoring position this season. 384 with 21 homers and 58 RBIs. Aramis Ramirez and Neil Walker both had two of Pittsburgh’s 16 hits.

John Jaso drove in three runs for the Rays.

Oakland answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning against Astros closer Luke Gregerson, a former Athletic.

Chavez (6-11) allowed one run on six hits, striking out four and walking four. The result of these games will inevitably determine who wins the division, and although the teams are trending in opposite directions at the moment (the Yankees are 4-6 in their last 10 games), there is still plenty of season left. “I know we didn’t score too much in two games”.

Almonte’s home run was the 28th allowed this season by Phil Hughes, a major league high.