The Toronto Blue Jays have managed to score just one run in 18 innings.
After being shutout on Friday, the Jays could only bring one runner across home plate in their 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday. Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was solely responsible for his team's lone run based off of a sacrifice fly. While Blue Jays batters were held scoreless for 16 of the 18 innings, Toronto was getting on base but they couldn't cash in with runners in scoring position.
Yankees starter CC Sabathia wasn't as flawless as Masahiro Tanaka was on Saturday but Sabathia kept the Jays in check, even if he had some help from the Yankees faithful.
When it seemed like the Jays responded at the right time, they came crashing back to earth. Blue Jays shortstop Ryan Goins had believed that he hit a home run. The solo shot would have cut the Jays deficit to one run but Sabathia knew a Yankees fan played a role in the play. After the umpires gathered to review the play, it was determined that the fan reached over the wall to catch the ball. Instead of Goins celebrating his 10th home run of the season, he was sent to second base. The Jays were unable to bring Goins in for a run, resulting in a wasted opportunity.
In the top of the eighth, Toronto's batters began to awaken and they suddenly had runners in scoring position with no outs. However, after the Yankees made the switch to David Robertson in the bullpen, three of the next four Jays batters were called out. The core of Toronto's lineup — Donaldson, Justin Smoak, and Jose Bautista — went hitless in 11 plate appearances.
Home Sweet Home
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 52nd home run. Judge's solo shot traveled 484 ft but it marked the 33rd home run that Judge has hit at Yankee Stadium.
484 feet off the bat of Aaron Judge! The fourth longest homer in the majors this season. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/NbYzszpa9g
— Today in the MLB (@TodayintheMLB) September 30, 2017
By doing so, Judge has passed Babe Ruth's Yankees record for most home runs hit at home. Ruth hit 32 home runs in 1921, when the Yankees played at the Polo Grounds.
Calling it a season
On Sunday, the Jays will take the field for the last time in 2017.
Brett Anderson will close out what has been a disappointing season for Toronto, where they will likely finish in either fourth or last place in the American League East. Yankees will send Jordan Montgomery to take the hill. Montgomery holds a 7-9 record this season including a 7-0 decision against the Jays on June 3 — his only start against Toronto this year.
It will also likely be the last time Jose Bautista will don the Toronto uniform.