 allowed two runs, four hits and struck out five without issuing a walk. The righty, who had three no-decisions in his past three starts, won for the first time since tossing a shutout over Tampa Bay on June 17.Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances.The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on Urshela's two-run single to left field off Toronto starter Marcus Stroman (5-10).Stroman, a New York native, started for the first time since June 29 after being sidelined with a left pectoral cramp. He gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings while striking out seven and walking two.Tanaka was cruising through the first four innings before the Blue Jays tied the game at 2-2 on solo homers in the fifth. Randal Grichuk led off the inning by driving Tanaka's fastball over the right-center field fence. It was his 16th homer of the season.After Tanaka struck out Danny Jansen and got Teoscar Hernandez to fly out, Eric Sogard cleared the short porch in right field for his 10th home run.In the bottom half of the inning, Urshela put the Yankees back ahead on a heads-up play when he scored on Stroman's two-out wild pitch with Aaron Judge at the plate.Jansen got a good carom and raced to the plate and appeared to tag out Urshela on the letters on his jersey.However, New York challenged and got the call reversed.Mike Tauchman's fifth homer of the season off reliever Derek Law in the seventh inning extended the Yankees' lead.TRAINER'S ROOM:Blue Jays: LHP Clayton Richard (left lat strain) was placed on the 10-day injury list. Richard was pulled from Saturday's start against New York after two innings. ... RHP Edwin Jackson (1-5, 12.43 ERA) was activated from the IL prior to Sunday's game. He was out since June 18 because of a lower back strain.Yankees: 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion was held out of the lineup Sunday after he was hit by a pitch on the left arm. X-rays came back negative.HELP ON THE WAY?RHPs Luis Severino and Dellin Betances are slated to start throwing programs Monday, after both pitchers underwent MRIs that cleared them, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday.Both pitchers suffered lat injuries while they were working back from their right shoulder injuries earlier this season. Boone would not commit to a specific timeline as to how soon Severino and Betances will rejoin the team.''I think we are confident (with) where they are at as far as their recovery and I think we feel like they're in position to start this step,'' Boone said.''Now their feedback and how they feel and bounce back is always a major part of the evaluation and continuing to lay out the program. But I think there's a kind of protocol that is followed and that they're in position to graduate to this point.'' Boone is anxious to see how Severino comes along during the early part of the program after being at the top of the New York's rotation last season with a record of 19-8 and a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts.''Obviously excited about him starting tomorrow and starting the throwing program and seeing where that progresses and what it looks like at the end of this week,'' Boone added.''How is he responding; how is he feeling when he goes out there; how is he feeling when he goes out there; how is he bouncing back the next day.'' Boone also said he was not sure what type of role Severino could fill for the club, if he returns to the mound, after recent remarks by general manager Brian Cashman indicated the righty could be used as a reliever.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Trent Thornton (3-6, 4.85 ERA) will be on the mound for the opener of a four-game series against Boston at Fenway Park on Monday. The rookie is 0-1 in his two starts against the Red Sox this season, having allowed nine runs and 19 hits over nine innings. Rick Porcello (6-7, 5.33) is scheduled to start for Boston.Yankees: LHP James Paxton (5-4, 4.01) faces Tampa Bay in Monday's four-game series opener. It's the lefty's first start since July 7 at Tampa, where he allowed two runs in six innings. He'll be matched up against Blake Snell (5-7, 4.70 ERA). The lefty is 3-6 with a 4.62 ERA in 15 starts against New York.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Stroman, Tanaka battle in Blue Jays, Yankees series finaleFLMWith a little more than two weeks remaining before the trade deadline, it is hardly an open secret Marcus Stroman is among those sought by contenders looking to fortify their starting pitching.Whether it is the New York Yankees or another team, Stroman could be making one of his last appearances with the Toronto Blue Jays.Stroman will be on the mound Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium when the Blue Jays conclude their three-game series with the Yankees.The deadline is July 31 but unlike past seasons, trades cannot be made in August through waivers, so rosters will be set and it could create the urgency to get something done for contending teams.Stroman (5-9, 3.18 ERA) is among those expected to be dealt elsewhere, joining a group that includes San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner, whom unlike Stroman is a free agent after the season.It is a reality that Stroman seems to have accepted when he spoke for nearly eight minutes during Toronto's last trip to New York in late June."I think that's kind of set in," Stroman said two weeks ago. "Obviously, it's hard to ignore all the rumors and I don't think I'm at a point where (the Jays) are going to sign me long-term. I've kind of come to terms with it, but it's not something I'm thinking about daily." Stroman will be pitching for the first time since June 29 due to a left pectoral cramp. He was cleared to start after throwing a bullpen session Friday and is hoping to replicate his last win on June 23 in Boston, when he allowed five hits in six scoreless innings of a 6-1 win.The Long Island native is 6-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 16 career starts against the Yankees and if he hands off a close lead to the bullpen, Ken Giles might not be available to close. Giles was not available for the save on Saturday due to lingering effects in his elbow caused by a massage during the All-Star break.The Yankees will hope not to face Giles or anyone else trying to get a save after scoring their only run with two outs in the ninth in Saturday's 2-1 loss.Aaron Judge had four hits, including an RBI single off Daniel Hudson but the Yankees stranded 11 and lost for the third time in four games when Luke Voit struck out on a close pitch."We just couldn't get it done," Judge said after the Yankees made it 172 straight games without being shutout. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow now that their whole bullpen is basically used.Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 3.86) will start for the Yankees and he was the injury replacement for Stroman in the All-Star game. Tanaka, the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game, is seeking his 70th career win and enters Sunday 12 shy of 900 career strikeouts.Tanaka's last start was July 5 at Tampa Bay, when he allowed four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision while throwing 101 pitches.Tanaka is 11-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 career starts against Toronto.--Field Level Media
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