Goins belts grand slam as Jays begin final home series with 8-1 rout of Yankees

Goins ended Tanaka’s night when he turned on an 0-2 pitch for his eighth homer of the season. While his average with the bases loaded improved to a remarkable .714 (10-for-14) this year, he wasn’t brimming with confidence as he stepped to the plate.

“I think the numbers are pretty clear,” Goins said. “I’ve never hit a ball out of the infield off Tanaka, much less in the air … I just told myself to get a good pitch and not make another out.”

It was the Yankees’ second loss in their last nine games. Coupled with Boston’s 5-4 win over Cincinnati, New York (85-68) fell four games behind the first-place Red Sox in the American League East division standings.

Starter Marco Estrada (10-8) worked seven strong innings to help the last-place Blue Jays (72-82) take the opener of the three-game series, which will close out Toronto’s home schedule.

The only hiccup on Estrada’s line was a solo shot by rookie sensation Aaron Judge in the first inning. His 46th homer of the season landed in the second level of seats after travelling a projected 469 feet.

“It was one of the hardest hit balls I’ve ever given up,” Estrada said. “It actually was a good pitch. I was trying to go up and in on him, I got it in there and he turned on it. So you tip your hat to that.”

The Blue Jays pulled even in the bottom half with an unearned run.

Hernandez singled and moved to third when second baseman Starlin Castro missed Todd Frazier’s throw on a potential double-play ball. Jose Bautista hit a slow chopper that brought home the speedy leadoff man.

Bautista delivered some stellar defence in the third inning. With Frazier on second, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a drive to right field that Bautista chased down near the warning track.

Frazier had to scamper back to the base to avoid being doubled off. Goins then burned him by faking a throw to the pitcher and applying the tag when Frazier lifted his foot off the base.

“I just mess around with it sometimes and finally for the first time it works out,” Goins said. “It was different so it was fun.”

Frazier said he should have known better, adding the Blue Jays took control of the game after that.

“Bonehead play by me, to be honest with you,” he said.

Hernandez did his best Judge impression in the bottom half of the frame to put the Blue Jays ahead. The 24-year-old hit a no-doubt moonshot that bounced off the windows in the 300 level at Rogers Centre.

His third homer of the season was followed an inning later by Martin’s 13th blast of the campaign.

In the sixth, Tanaka walked Bautista, gave up a single to Kevin Pillar and issued a two-out walk to Kendrys Morales to load the bases.

Goins followed with his second career grand slam. His 10 hits with the bases loaded this season leads the major leagues and tied Carlos Delgado’s club record from 2003.

Tanaka (12-12) allowed six hits, seven earned runs, three walks and had six strikeouts. Estrada allowed three hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out four.

Toronto outhit New York 7-3. Announced attendance was 42,153 and the game took two hours 32 minutes to play.

Notes: Joe Biagini (3-11, 5.33 earned-run average) is scheduled to start for Toronto on Saturday against fellow right-hander Sonny Gray (9-11, 3.38 ERA). … The game will start at 4:07 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the usual 1:07 p.m. … Goins’ other grand slam came May 24 at Milwaukee. … The Blue Jays will finish their season next week with a road trip that will includes stops in Boston and New York.

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Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Goins belts grand slam as Jays begin final home series with 8-1 rout of Yankees

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