NEW YORK (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dropped 42 kilos after an underwhelming 2020.
He is hoping much less might be extra — and the 22-year-old positive nonetheless appears like a heavy hitter.
Guerrero and Randal Grichuk homered off Domingo Germán within the Yankee right-hander’s return from a home violence ban, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat New York 3-1 Sunday to win a season-opening sequence towards their AL East rival.
A slimmed-down Guerrero had a success in all three video games, together with an opposite-field shot main off the second inning towards Germán.
“He makes the lineup loads higher,” supervisor Charlie Montoyo mentioned. “That’s what we expect may occur. That was a good looking swing to go reverse subject.”
It was Guerrero’s first longball of the season after he hit .262 with 9 homers in 60 video games final 12 months. The son of Corridor of Famer Vladimir Guerrero went on a weight loss plan over the winter, and teammates have remarked on his vitality this spring.
“I really feel loads higher this 12 months,” he mentioned through translator.
Grichuk wrapped a two-run drive across the left-field foul pole two batters after Guerrero, serving to Toronto take two of three.
“We had been coming in with confidence,” Montoyo mentioned. “It is even higher now.”
T.J. Zeuch pitched 4 scoreless innings for the Blue Jays, and left-hander Ryan Borucki (1-0) acquired two outs to flee a jam within the sixth. Julian Merryweather acquired his second save with an ideal ninth.
Germán (0-1) allowed three runs over three innings in his first look since Sept. 18, 2019. He missed all of final season serving an 81-game ban below Main League Baseball’s home violence coverage after an alleged incident involving his girlfriend, with whom he has a minimum of one baby.
The 28-year-old Germán was applauded by followers in proper subject when he bolted out of the dugout for warmups about 35 minutes earlier than first pitch and acquired extra cheers after finishing a 12-pitch first inning.
Germán repeatedly left the ball up in the course of the second — together with on each homers — and was pulled after the third with 68 pitches. He was charged with 4 hits, a stroll and a wild pitch whereas placing out two.
“It was very thrilling to be again on a serious league mound and compete,” Germán mentioned through translator. “I wished to remain calm and take all of it in. Undoubtedly had some points within the sport at present, however total, thrilling.”
Proper-hander Michael King adopted Germán with six scoreless innings of one-hit ball. King retired his closing 15 batters, baffling Toronto with a five-pitch combine. He walked one and struck out three on 68 pitches. He’s the primary Yankees reliever with a minimum of six innings and no a couple of hit since Bob Shirley on Sept. 21, 1986.
“He’s put himself in a great spot to be an actual contributor,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned of the 25-year-old.
Bo Bichette turned the quickest Blue Jays participant to succeed in 100 profession hits, getting there with a first-inning double in his 78th sport. Alex Rios wanted 85 video games.
Zeuch threw 63 pitches and allowed three hits and a stroll with one strikeout. Proper-hander Trent Thornton gave up a run within the fifth and was pulled within the sixth after dropping a pair mph on his fastball. He allowed Gleyber Torres’ double earlier than Borucki retired Jay Bruce and Gary Sánchez to finish the inning.
Brett Gardner had an RBI groundout within the fifth for New York.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: Activated LHP Tommy Milone and optioned RHP Joel Payamps to the taxi squad. RHP Kirby Yates (proper elbow surgical procedure) was transferred to the 60-day injured checklist.
Yankees: Nearer Aroldis Chapman was activated after serving a two-game suspension to start the season for throwing a pitch close to the top of Tampa Bay’s Mike Brosseau on Sept. 1. … LHP Zack Britton (left elbow surgical procedure) may resume taking part in catch this week. He was positioned on the 60-day injured checklist March 31. … DH Giancarlo Stanton was given the break day.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: Begin a three-game set at Texas on Monday. Toronto LHP Steven Matz (0-5, 9.68 in 2020) will face Rangers RHP Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 16.20)
Yankees: Open a three-game house sequence towards Baltimore on Monday. New York LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-3, 5.11 in 2020) will face RHP Jorge López (2-2, 6.69). The Yankees are 24-5 towards the Orioles final two seasons.
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Comply with Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner
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