Fan throws back homer ball at Yankee Stadium, hits NY player

New York Yankees’ Chase Headley takes off his batting helmet after grounding out to end the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, August 8, 2015, in New York.

The next inning, he was hit in the back by Bautista’s home run ball when a fan in the left-field stands threw it back onto the field. Gibbons was ejected from th…

“He just made a mistake with a fastball”, Bautista said.

Newcomer Troy Tulowitzki also homered as Toronto closed within 21/2 games of the American League East-leading Yankees. Don’t look now, but if the Jays sweep today against Masahiro Tanaka, they’ll be only 1 1/2 games out. I won’t say it’s because of the 314 foot fence in right, but it’s definitely in their favor to spend Game 7 in the Bronx.

Thrust into the middle of a division battle against a team that heavily sought after him, Price delivered the goods for his team. The Jays sent (former) staff ace R.A. Dickey (6-2, 4.06 ERA) to the mound against Nathan Eovaldi (11-2, 4.30 ERA), in what would turn out to be a phenomenal pitching battle by both starters, and their respective bullpens. The change of uniform seemed to do the trick as he performed like his prime 2012 Cy Young Award winning self.

Price allowed just three hits while striking out two with his new team.

Asked about it afterward, Gibbons said: “Good question”.

The last two times he pitched against the Bombers are considered the worst starts of his career. They were. 500 before Tulowitzki entered the lineup, and now, with October fast approaching, Toronto looks like a legitimate threat in the AL.

It was hand-written and it was simple: “If you don’t like it, Pitch Better”.

Perez, who had been in a 6-for-32 skid, had a two-out single in the three-run fourth.

Price combined with two relievers on Toronto’s first shutout at Yankee Stadium since 2007. Nova tossed a hanging curveball. Jimenez conceded two hits and one walk, hit two batters, struck out six and threw a season-high 118 pitches in his eight innings.

With one swing of the bat, Smoak was able to accomplish a couple of firsts. 225 when he launched his drive to right-center.

This was the 285th game Toronto played in the old and new Yankee Stadiums since joining the majors in 1977. And out of the blue the New York Yankees do not sit so comfortably atop the AL East. Tulowitzki homered to left on a full count.

The Blue Jays improved to 6-2 against New York this year, including 4-1 on the road. The Yankees remain optimistic that Nova can continue to capitalize off the strong play and help propel them into the postseason.

In San Diego, California, Adam Morgan held down the Padres over six innings, while Odubel Herrera had two hits and two RBIs to lead Philadelphia to a win. “They’re a tough group to navigate”.

Blue Jays eighth. Bautista safe at first on B.Ryan’s error. They are a putrid 12-23 in one-run games, but given that record in one-run games is more a function of randomness than anything else, there’s no reason to think that it will persist. The Yankees slugger stopped at second base, and manager Joe Girardi requested an appeal. He’s feeling fine, but hadn’t had much career success vs. Price.

There’s still a lot of season left, but the Blue Jays had to have this series circled on their schedules after their deadline moves.

Victor Martinez cracked a two-run home run into the right-field seats with two outs in the seventh inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox.