Early Deficit Too Much for Yanks to Overcome vs. Jays

Once again, the Yankees followed up a game where they scored a lot of runs with a game where a couple of runs from the game before could have made a big difference.

Michael Pineda started for the Yankees against the Toronto Blue Jays last night, and fell behind 3-0 in the 1st inning, allowing a home run by Josh Donaldson, a walk by Kendrys Morales, and another home run by Justin Smoak. The Jays scored additional runs in the 3rd and the 4th.

The Yankees played the rest of the game trying to catch up. In the 6th, it looked like they might, as Aaron Judge and Starlin Castro each hit home runs (their 18th and 8th of the season, respectively), but that only closed them to within 5-4. Jonathan Holder and Adam Warren each allowed a run in an inning of relief work, so even though the Yankees scored again in the 7th, they could not erase the deficit.

Blue Jays 7, Yankees 5. WP: Francisco Liriano (3-3). SV: Roberto Osuna (12). LP: Pineda (6-3).

The Yankees' front office revealed that Jacoby Ellsbury has concussion symptoms again, and will continue to be shut down. This is aggravating, given that he has never truly lived up to his big contract. On the other hand, Aaron Hicks has done well in his place.

The series continues this afternoon. Jordan Montgomery starts against Joe Biagini.