The Toronto Blue Jays secured their first playoff win in nearly a decade with a dominant 10-1 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League (AL) Division Series. Alejandro Kirk’s impressive two-homer performance was instrumental in the Blue Jays’ success, marking his second consecutive game with multiple home runs.
The last time Toronto clinched a postseason win was in Game 4 of the 2016 AL Championship Series against Cleveland. Kirk, who previously delivered six RBIs in the Blue Jays’ regular-season finale, launched a solo home run in the second inning and followed up with another in the eighth.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also shined, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. He initiated the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning and later contributed a sacrifice fly during Toronto’s four-run seventh inning. Nathan Lukes and Andres Gimenez made significant offensive contributions as well, helping the Blue Jays snap a seven-game playoff losing streak with a total of 14 hits.
Pitcher Kevin Gausman’s solid performance on the mound, allowing only one run and four hits in 5 ⅔ innings, earned him the win. The game saw a tense moment in the sixth inning when Gausman faced a bases-loaded situation but managed to strike out key batters to maintain Toronto’s lead.
Looking ahead, Game 2 of the series is set for Sunday at Rogers Centre, with Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage slated to start against Yankees’ Max Fried. Yesavage, who impressed in the minor leagues this season, will be making his fourth Major League appearance, while Fried, a seasoned All-Star, boasts a strong regular-season record.
Toronto’s home advantage has been notable this season, winning seven of eight matchups against New York at home. The Blue Jays, with a stellar 54-27 home record in the regular season, will aim to continue their success as the series progresses.
The Yankees secured their spot in the ALDS with a 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card series, setting the stage for an exciting matchup with the Blue Jays. New York, last year’s AL pennant winners, fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
