Just like his team, Hyun Jin Ryu continues to be a model of consistency atop the Toronto Blue Jays' rotation. And when he faces the New York Mets, he's almost unbeatable.
Ryu worked out of early trouble to get through six innings before the offense finally broke open a close game as the Jays beat the Mets, 7-3, in the rubber game of their series Sunday in wind-whipped Sahlen Field.
The Blue Jays (26-20) endured an 18-1 drubbing in the series opener Friday night but rallied to win the last two games by allowing a combined five runs. They have won or split each of their last nine series – the second-longest run in franchise history behind an 11-series sequence during their 1992 World Series championship season – and completed a 4-2 homestand against the Yankees and Mets.
Toronto remains a half-game ahead of the Yankees for second in the AL East. Both teams are off Monday.
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"It's been amazing and fun for me to watch, having such a young team," said manager Charlie Montoyo. "They've done a great job. Playing four straight weeks has been great for them. I'm proud of this team. They have mental toughness wanting to win and letting go of the tough games."
Ryu (4-1) gave up Dominic Smith's RBI single in the first but didn't give up another run as he moved away from his changeup and relied more on his fastball and cutter. The Blue Jays' $80 million free agent signee found plenty of trouble in the first four innings as the Mets collected eight hits but found his rhythm to retire the last eight men he faced.
"After giving up that early run in the first inning I had to tweak my game plan," Ryu said through an interpreter in reference to moving away from the changeup. "I have to adapt to different situations inning by inning. I think that really helped me not give up a hard hit ball or extra-base hit and helped get me through those runners."
Ryu improved his lifetime record against the Mets to 5-1 with a 1.28 ERA over nine starts. In 58 2/3 career innings against them, he has 59 strikeouts and just eight walks.
"He's an ace," Montoyo said. "What he did today, not everybody can make an adjustment during a game and that's what he did."
Two key hits
The Blue Jays took the lead for keeps, 2-1, on Lourdes' Gurriel's two-run monster shot to Oak Street in the second. It was estimated at 447 feet.
They broke the game open on Santiago Espinal's three-run double to the left-field corner in the sixth that made it 6-1. Mets relievers Brad Brach and Jared Hughes combined to walk the first four men in that inning and they all scored.
Good Lourdes, this one left the park 😳🍍 @yunitogurriel 🍍 pic.twitter.com/qxnzS8h8sM
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 13, 2020
Yankee pitching doodles
The Blue Jays missed Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka when the Yankees were here last week. That won't be the case when the teams play a three-game series that starts Tuesday in the Bronx.
Tuesday's opener will see the Yankees pitch rookie Deivi Garcia against Toronto's Taijuan Walker. Garcia got his first MLB victory here Wednesday night to spark the Yankees' turnaround. Aces Cole and Tanaka will then pitch Wednesday and Thursday.
It will be interesting if the Yankees pitch Cole on his normal rest and have him work next Sunday in Fenway Park, or hold him for the opener of the four-game series against the Blue Jays here on Sept. 21.
Around the horn
Time is running out on the Mets, who are 21-26 and losing touch with the Phillies and Giants in the National League wild card race. ... It was a miserable series for Mets DH Pete Alonso, who went 1 for 13. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year – who set the all-time record for first-year players last season with 53 home runs – is batting just .222 this season with 11 homers. ... Blue Jays staffers removed the cardboard cutout fans from three sections behind home plate because players have complained there was glare off them during day games. They will return to their locations for next week's games.
