The Toronto Blue Jays pulled off one of the most impressive bullpen performances in recent postseason memory, defeating the New York Yankees 5-2 on Wednesday to win the American League Division Series 3-1 and advance to the AL Championship Series.
Toronto leaned on eight relievers, who combined to allow only two runs over nine innings while striking out 10. The strategy, often risky in high-pressure postseason moments, paid off in full as the Blue Jays stifled a potent Yankees lineup led by former MVPs Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Paul Goldschmidt.
On the offensive side, Nathan Lukes led the charge with two hits and two RBIs. George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each added an RBI, while Addison Barger and Ernie Clement posted multi-hit efforts. Toronto out-hit New York 12-6, marking its third game of the series with at least 10 hits. The Blue Jays totaled 50 hits across the four-game set.
After securing the victory, Toronto’s celebration included a playful jab at its AL East rivals. The Blue Jays blasted Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” throughout the clubhouse — the same song the Yankees traditionally play after home victories. Manager John Schneider joined in the fun, quipping “Start spreading the news,” echoing the song’s iconic lyrics.
With the Detroit Tigers forcing a Game 5 against the Seattle Mariners, Toronto will enjoy a brief rest before the ALCS begins Sunday. The extra time off could provide a key advantage, allowing the Blue Jays’ bullpen to reset after its heavy workload.