TORONTO — Jameson Taillon felt right at home during the Yankees’ ninth consecutive win.
Taillon fanned eight Blue Jays batters over 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball on Saturday as New York blanked Toronto, 4-0, and continued its absolute dominance over American League East opponents.
It wasn’t an easy matchup for the Yankees’ Canadian-American starter, as the Blue Jays sent Cy Young contender Alek Manoah to the Rogers Centre mound. But New York’s lineup once again took what it was given, delivering good at-bats through nine innings and relying on a lot of left-handed batters against Manoah.
Aaron Hicks was the offensive difference-maker, launching a bases-loaded double that drove in three Yankees runs in the fourth. It was Hicks’ first bases-loaded extra-base hit since June 1, 2017, when he also notched a three-run double in Toronto.
The win gave the Yankees a 17th series victory — of 20 total series — and 24 wins in 34 games against division opponents. New York currently leads the AL East by 12 games.