Well this was unexpected.
Not only did the Toronto Blue Jays just sweep the New York Yankees, but they are now alone atop the American League East standings at (49-38) on the season.
Yes, 49 wins and we’re not even at the all-star break.
And, how about this? It’s the latest in the season the Blue Jays have been in first place since 2016. It was also the Jays first ever four-game series sweep at home in franchise history.
Perhaps the most impressive win of the four-game sweep of the Yankees, was game three on Wednesday night when the Jays opened an 8-0 lead only to see the Bronx Bombers eventually tie the game 9-9.
The Blue Jays of old would have folded.
Not the 2025 edition of Canada’s only major league team.
“I go back to the way that we’ve done it with guys being out, guys contributing and just putting a focus on trying to win every series, said Manager John Schneider.
“We’re going to continue to do that. And that’s what you have to do over 162. There are going to be ebbs and flows. A couple of weeks from now I can be sitting here telling you it’s going to come back to this. You never really know. But what’s really encouraging is the way that we’re doing it right now and you can kind of fall back on that when you need to.”
Bo Bichette didn’t play in the series against the Yankees. Neither did off-season signing Anthony Santander.
It’s the likes of Addison Barger, who started the season with Triple-A Buffalo, and catcher Alejandro Kirk leading the way.
The resurgent George Springer and his four home runs in the series against the Yanks certainly helped.
In his last 11 games, Springer has batted 20 for 39 (.513) with four homers, 19 RBI, 14 runs scored, six walks and three stolen bases.
Chris Bassit gutted out five and two-thirds striking out nine while throwing a season high 113 pitches.
“Yeah, I would say the culture that we’ve been able to build here,” Bassitt said. “It’s taken a while.
“We’re getting rewarded for playing the game the right way and playing the game hard, not much more than that. I think it’s an old-school approach of how to play the game. Obviously, we have a lot of talented guys in the room, so you have a lot of talented guys playing the way that we’re playing.”
It certainly didn’t hurt that the four-game series took place the week of Canada Day and July 4th, but a playoff atmosphere returned to Toronto.
Blue Jays fans are dreaming of October baseball once again.
Next up the Los Angeles Angels in town for the first of three games starting Friday night.
Rod Mawhood is a lifelong Niagara native who has had the pleasure of working in all three mediums – Radio, Print and TV – for over 20 years. His first announcing gig was with the then St. Catharines Stompers. Since then he’s worked in radio and TV in Toronto, and currently is the announcer for the Niagara IceDogs and Niagara River Lions.
Rod also covers the Buffalo Bills for FOX Sports and the Buffalo Sabres for NBC Sports.
