NEW YORK – David Price pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Justin Smoak lined Toronto’s first-ever grand slam in the Bronx and the Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 6-0 Saturday for their seventh straight win.
Newcomer Troy Tulowitzki also homered as Toronto closed within 2 1/2 games of the AL East leaders.
With two wins in a row, the Blue Jays became the first team to take a set against the Yankees since early July. On Sunday, Toronto will try to sweep them in a series of at least three games for the first time since May 2003.
A day after R.A. Dickey and the Blue Jays beat New York 2-1 in a 10-inning matchup between the highest-scoring teams in the majors, Price (11-4) dominated.
Price won for the second straight time since Toronto acquired the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner from Detroit. The lefty gave up three singles and struck out seven.
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Price had gotten tagged in his last two starts vs. the Yankees to the tune of a 33.26 ERA. Wearing a different uniform, he looked like a different pitcher against them. He pounded his left hand into his glove three times after his final toss, retiring Brendan Ryan on a popup to Smoak with runners at the corners.
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Smoak broke open a scoreless game in the sixth by connecting against Ivan Nova (4-4) for his first career slam. The Blue Jays had been limited to two singles before they loaded the bases with one out on a pair of walks and a hit.
Smoak was batting just .225 when he launched his drive to right-centre. Known as a fine-fielding first baseman, he’s had a penchant for getting key hits this season despite his low average.
This was the 285th game Toronto played in the old and new Yankee Stadiums since joining the majors in 1977. The Blue Jays had hit five previous slams against New York, all at home, with the last by Tony Fernandez in 2001, STATS said.
Toronto manager John Gibbons didn’t get a firsthand look at Smoak’s shot – he was ejected in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes.
Tulowitzki homered in the seventh, his third in 11 games since Toronto got him a trade with Colorado.
The Blue Jays improved to 6-2 against New York this year, including 4-1 on the road. Last year, Toronto stopped its 17-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium.
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Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (9-6, 3.40 ERA) hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in seven of his last eight starts.
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (8-4, 3.84) is 3-1 lifetime vs. Toronto. He lost to the Blue Jays on opening day.
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