{"id":148154,"date":"2025-07-03T04:15:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T04:15:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/148154\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T04:15:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T04:15:15","slug":"blue-jays-continue-ascent-tied-atop-al-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/148154\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Jays continue ascent, tied atop AL East"},"content":{"rendered":"

TORONTO \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels great, but the goal is to keep winning,\u201d said Toronto\u2019s 26-year-old slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., named the AL\u2019s starting first baseman for his fifth trip to the All-Star Game.<\/p>\n

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added, \u201cI go back to the way that we\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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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\u2019s time at the helm.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI didn\u2019t think of that,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cBut we\u2019ve got another game (Thursday). That\u2019s basically it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Chris is hydrating right now. He\u2019ll be good for about 140 (pitches),\u201d Schneider joked.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Garcia was making his first appearance after being out with a right shoulder injury since May 22.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

With a runner on and one out, did Schneider consider issuing another intentional walk with Cody Bellinger hitting behind Judge.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019ll go to bed at three o\u2019clock instead of two o\u2019clock,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cI got a lot of respect for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want to bring the go-ahead run up to the plate \u2026 It\u2019s not a perfect science. I\u2019ve (intentially walked Judge) a lot to him this year and the last couple of years, and I\u2019ll continue to do it if I have to.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut at the same time, I think walking a guy to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, who\u2019s had a hell of a big league career, Bellinger, I\u2019d be sleeping here tonight if that happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2025.<\/p>\n

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