NEW YORK – This youth movement has brought a new feeling to the New York Yankees. It’s put them in a new position in the pennant race, too.
Chad Green struck out 11 in six dominant innings, fellow rookie Aaron Judge delivered again with an RBI double and Dellin Betances escaped a big ninth-inning jam, leading the Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 on Monday night.
“That’s a great team win,” Green said.
Betances got major league RBI leader Edwin Encarnacion to ground into a game-ending, around-the-horn double play with runners at the corners.
The Yankees won for the fifth time in six games, taking the first 1-0 decision between the teams since 2005. They dropped Toronto percentage points out of first place in the AL East and, after many thought they were fading from contention, pulled within 5 1/2 games of new division leader Baltimore.
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The wins have come as the Yankees have shed veterans Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Judge and Green have been joined by the likes of newcomers Gary Sanchez and Tyler Austin.
“It’s definitely different,” manager Joe Girardi said.
“There’s a little more energy,” he said. “That happens when you have young guys.”
Promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A for his fifth stint of the season with the Yankees, Green (2-2) was in complete control. He gave up two hits, walked none and outpitched R.A. Dickey (8-13).
Tyler Clippard, Adam Warren and Betances combined for scoreless relief. Betances held on for his fifth save as the Yankees stopped a five-game losing streak to Toronto.
Green retired the first 13 batters, with just one ball hit out of the infield. After Troy Tulowitzki singled and Darrell Ceciliani doubled with one out in the fifth, the 25-year-old rookie fanned his final hitters.
Green twice struck out reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson. The right-hander fanned him with his 104th and final pitch, a 96 mph heater, and Donaldson flung his bat toward the Toronto dugout.
“He’s got a good, live arm,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
“He was confident. As the game went on, you could see it more and more,” he said.
Judge homered in his first two big league games over the weekend, and drove in the only run this time. He’s 5 for 10 since being called up.
“It’s still the same game,” Judge said.
Girardi wondered before the game how some of the other young Yankees would handle Dickey’s knuckleball, and Judge struck out swinging the first time up.
“A little experiment,” Judge said.
But after Dickey walked consecutive batters in the fourth, Judge went the opposite way and lined a one-hop double to the wall in right-centre field.
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Judge became the first Yankees player with an extra-base hit and RBI in his first three career games since the RBI became an official stat in 1920, ESPN Stats & Info said.
The Yankees had plenty of chances, but went 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 14.
Dickey left after five innings, striking out six but walking four. He has won one of his last six starts.
GREEN DAY
Green became the second Yankees rookie pitcher to strike out at least 11 and walk none without allowing a run. Stan Bahnsen was the first, in 1968.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: OF Ezequiel Carrera (Achilles) could come off the 15-DL Tuesday night.
Yankees: OF Brett Gardner (ankle) didn’t start for the third straight game. He hopes to be back in the lineup Tuesday night.
Umpire: Plate ump Hunter Wendelstedt was hit by a foul tip from Brian McCann of the Yankees leading off the second inning. Wendelstedt stayed in for the rest of the inning, then left for the night. The game continued with three umpires.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (7-5, 2.95) hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any of his previous 13 starts. He has allowed just one home run over his last four outings.
Yankees: RHP Michael Pineda (6-10, 5.07) has won three of his last five starts. Before that stretch, he had won only three of his first 18 starts.