By Globalnews Digital The Canadian Press
TORONTO 鈥 In 34 days, the Toronto Blue Jays have overcome an eight-game deficit to roar into a tie for the top spot in the American League East.
In their ascension to catch the New York Yankees, the Blue Jays (48-38) have taken the first three outings of a four-game set against the Bronx Bombers (48-38), including a wild 11-9 win on Wednesday.
鈥淚t feels great, but the goal is to keep winning,鈥 said Toronto鈥檚 26-year-old slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., named the AL鈥檚 starting first baseman for his fifth trip to the All-Star Game.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider added, 鈥淚 go back to the way that we鈥檝e done it, with guys being out, other guys contributing, and just putting a focus on trying to win every series. We need to continue to do that.鈥
The Blue Jays began turning around their season in early May, going 32-18 since May 8 for a .640 win percentage. Only the Houston Astros have performed at a better clip with a .680 win percentage in the same stretch.
Since falling eight games behind the Yankees on May 28, Toronto has gone 21-10 in its run to the top for the first time in Schneider鈥檚 time at the helm.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think of that,鈥 Schneider said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e got another game (Thursday). That鈥檚 basically it.鈥
Chris Bassitt (7-4) will start for Toronto in the series finale, while Clarke Schmidt (4-4) will pitch for the visitors. With the Blue Jays bullpen taxed from the first three games in this series, Bassitt will need to be at his best.
鈥淵eah, Chris is hydrating right now. He鈥檒l be good for about 140 (pitches),鈥 Schneider joked.
The home side was ahead 7-0 after the first and 8-0 after three innings, only to see the Yankees tie the game 9-9 on a two-run monster shot from Aaron Judge off reliever Yimi Garcia in the eighth inning.
Garcia was making his first appearance after being out with a right shoulder injury since May 22.
Judge smacked his 31st homer, a 440-foot shot into the second deck in left field. After getting on base five times with three walks and two hits on Tuesday, he delivered a single, double, homer and an intentional walk in five plate appearances before 30,985 at Rogers Centre on Wednesday.
With a runner on and one out, did Schneider consider issuing another intentional walk with Cody Bellinger hitting behind Judge.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檒l go to bed at three o鈥檆lock instead of two o鈥檆lock,鈥 Schneider said. 鈥淚 got a lot of respect for him.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to bring the go-ahead run up to the plate 鈥 It鈥檚 not a perfect science. I鈥檝e (intentially walked Judge) a lot to him this year and the last couple of years, and I鈥檒l continue to do it if I have to.
鈥淏ut at the same time, I think walking a guy to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, who鈥檚 had a hell of a big league career, Bellinger, I鈥檇 be sleeping here tonight if that happened.鈥
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.