It’s safe to say the Rogers Centre has been especially kind to the Toronto Blue Jays as of late.
After taking down the New York Yankees 4-1 on Monday night, the AL East-leading Blue Jays set a new franchise record with their 11th consecutive home win as they improved to 59-41 on the season — tied for the second-most wins in MLB this season.
It’s been a month since Toronto lost at home, their last defeat at the Rogers Centre coming against the Chicago White Sox on July 22.
“It’s never hard to get up for a game (in Toronto),” relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman told Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae after picking up a save on his bobblehead night. “The fans show up, they show out, and they’re loud. We love playing in front of them and we’re excited to keep it going.”
Since then, the Blue Jays have gone 18-5 overall, including three home-series sweeps, the first of which was against the Yankees. After taking that four-game set, Toronto then swept the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants before its record-setting win against New York.
The previous recorded 10-game home win streak was strung together by the 1985 Blue Jays, who went on to win the AL East with a 99-62 mark.
Monday’s victory came courtesy of a total team effort, starting with Kevin Gausman, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball to go with eight strikeouts. The lone score he allowed came from a solo home run by Giancarlo Stanton in the fourth inning.
Meanwhile, the top of Toronto’s batting order did its part as well, as all three of George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette scored runs as part of a four-run fifth inning.
Bichette would drive in both Springer and Guerro on a two-run double and later score thanks to a Yankees throwing error in the frame.
The Blue Jays continue their three-game homestand against the Yankees Tuesday, looking to improve upon what’s now a four-game lead atop the AL East. Catch first pitch between the division rivals at 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+.
