Rivalry builds as Guerrero Jr. stings Yankees with words then bat in Blue Jays win

NEW YORK — As guests’ batting follow wrapped up on a cool Friday night at Yankee Stadium, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sat within the visiting dugout and fielded questions.

Speaking by means of an interpreter, he expressed confidence in his plate strategy and acknowledged he’s trying ahead to going through Gerrit Cole on Saturday (extra on that later). But his most memorable reply got here in response to a query about one thing he mentioned final winter.

Asked final low season concerning the Yankees, Guerrero Jr. informed interviewer Dotol Nastra that he would by no means signal with MLB’s winningest franchise. “Ni muerto,” he added — “not even dead.” So because the Blue Jays arrived in New York for the primary time this 12 months, Guerrero Jr. was requested if these feedback nonetheless mirrored his mind-set.

“It’s a personal thing,” he mentioned calmly through translator Hector Lebron. “It goes back with my family. That’s my decision and I will never change that.”

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A bit of greater than an hour later, Guerrero Jr. stepped in for his first at-bat of the evening, and despatched a Domingo German pitch 417 toes to left discipline for a two-run homer. Not solely was it a well-timed swing on Guerrero Jr.’s half, it set in movement a 6-1 Blue Jays win behind a breakout recreation from Brandon Belt and one other robust begin from Yusei Kikuchi.

Whether or not the Yankees noticed Guerrero Jr.’s feedback, they definitely noticed the house run. So when Greg Weissert hit the primary baseman within the elbow within the ninth inning, Guerrero Jr. stared the rookie reliever down. But afterwards, supervisor John Schneider downplayed the plunking, pointing to the motion on Weissert’s pitches.

“These are two good teams, two teams that respect each other,” Schneider mentioned.

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Now, the Yankees have two villains to select from at any time when the Blue Jays go to: the power-hitting first baseman who says he’d by no means willingly put on Yankee pinstripes or the 25-year-old Cy Young finalist who referred to as Gerrit Cole the worst cheater in baseball (maybe surprisingly, it’s former Astro George Springer who will get the worst boos from New York’s followers).

But on Friday it was Guerrero Jr. who set the tone together with his phrases and together with his bat. Entering the sport, he led baseball with 36 balls hit 95 m.p.h. or tougher, but had in some way related for simply 4 extra-base hits: three house runs and a lone double.

As supervisor John Schneider mentioned: “Weird.”

Weird certainly, however continued onerous contact allowed Guerrero Jr. to hit a ball the place no Yankee might catch it Friday. Before the sport, the 24-year-old made it clear that he wasn’t about to waver from his selective strategy.

“I think I’m hitting good right now,” he mentioned. “I’m making the right decisions. For some reason, I’m probably not hitting the ball the way I want to, but I will continue to go about the same plan, same routine, and will just continue to be me. Hopefully the ball starts going out again.”

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But the place house runs are the norm for Guerrero Jr., it had been some time for the opposite power-hitting first baseman on Toronto’s roster. After signing a one-year, $9.3 million deal, Belt began slowly, however the Blue Jays continued discovering common enjoying time for him and on Friday he rewarded their endurance together with his first house run since final July — a two-run shot off German.

“I just feel like I’m able to contribute now,” Belt mentioned. “And it’s exciting. I think anybody who’s playing on a new team or just in general wants to feel like they’re helping contribute to the team’s success and helping the team win ball games. So it’s nice to see.”

Later, Belt would drive in two extra with a double that eluded Aaron Judge on the proper discipline wall.

Meanwhile, Kikuchi was quietly efficient, limiting the Yankees to only one run on 4 hits over six innings. It may not have been as dominant as his earlier outing in opposition to the Rays, however he’s now allowed just one run in three of his 4 begins and the Blue Jays are undefeated when he pitches.

“It’s my fifth year (in MLB),” Kikuchi mentioned by means of interpreter Yusuke Oshima. “But, it’s probably since my very first year that I’ve been able to feel this good.”

All issues thought-about that’s glorious manufacturing from the fifth starter’s spot and a big enchancment from a 12 months in the past. Even final month, Kikuchi wasn’t assured of a rotation spot, however he’s since grow to be important to the Blue Jays’ probabilities.

Watch Manoah and Blue Jays face Cole and Yankees on Sportsnet

It’s ace vs. ace as Alek Manoah and the Blue Jays face Gerrit Cole and the Yankees in New York on Saturday afternoon. Watch the sport on Sportsnet and SN NOW starting at 1 p.m. ET/ 10 a.m. PT.

Watch on SN NOW

Full broadcast schedule

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But as entertaining as Friday’s recreation was, Saturday guarantees to supply simply as a lot intrigue. Last summer time, when the Blue Jays and Yankees exchanged phrases, Manoah mentioned “if Gerrit wants to do something, he can walk past (Yankee Stadium’s painted, on-field) Audi sign next time.” Just a few months later throughout baseball’s low season, NBA participant Serge Ibaka requested Manoah to establish MLB’s greatest cheater.

“Gerrit Cole,” Manoah responded. “He used a lot of sticky stuff to make his pitches better, and he kind of got called out on it.”

Now, Cole and Manoah are lined as much as pitch on the identical day.

“Some of the things that Alek has said between the Audi sign and other things, it’s Alek being him,” Schneider mentioned. “Comments within the low season had been in a bizarre surroundings that he most likely needs he didn’t say however I believe you recognize extra so it’s simply us versus them. Division opponent. It shouldn’t be singularly targeted on Alek and Gerrit.”

On that final level, Manoah’s in full settlement. Facing the Yankees, going through Cole — it issues, nevertheless it’s about as important as a recreation in opposition to any prime division rival. But concerning the different half — does Manoah want he might take again any of the issues he’s mentioned?

“No,” he mentioned. “Not at all.”

More from Sportsnet

Blue Jays Notebook: What’s good for Chapman is sweet for everybody

Series Preview: Manoah vs. Cole grudge match on faucet as Blue Jays battle Yankees

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