Trent Grisham worked out a two-out, bases-loaded walk to break a tie in the sixth inning, Ben Rice followed with a two-run single and the New York Yankees earned an 8-3 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.
New York won for the sixth time in seven games and 10th time in 15 games thanks to getting four hits in the sixth off Toronto starter Jose Soriano (10-7) and reliever Mason Fluharty.
The Yankees loaded the bases when Soriano could not field Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s bunt single to the third base side of the mound. Soriano was replaced by Braydon Fisher, who struck out Austin Wells and retired Jose Caballero on a fly ball.
Grisham reached a full count after swinging at a curveball but drew the go-ahead walk when Fisher’s slider was low. Rice also reached a full count and gave the Yankees a 5-2 lead by lining a slider to right field to score rookie Spencer Jones and Chisholm.
Jones had an RBI double in the second off Soriano and reached bases three times. He also made a sliding catch on Alejandro Kirk to open the sixth.
Wells added an RBI double, and Chisholm slugged a two-run homer in the seventh off Brendon Little as the Yankees scored at least seven runs for just the fifth time since the All-Star break.
Grisham added New York’s final run with a homer in the eighth. Both Chisholm and Grisham recorded their 18th homers of the year.
New York starter Carlos Rodon allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits in four innings. In his second start since returning from left elbow inflammation, the left-hander struck out two and walked two in a 76-pitch outing.
Paul Blackburn (5-2) followed with two perfect innings.
Rookie Brett Bateman and Daz Cameron lifted sacrifice flies for the Blue Jays, who went 8-5 in a stretch of 13 straight games against AL East opponents. Kirk added an RBI single in the eighth off Ryan Yarbrough before Brent Headrick retired George Springer to end the inning.
Soriano allowed two runs on seven hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three.