Toronto Blue Jays' Kendrys Morales hits a two-run single during a third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in New York, Tuesday, July 4, 2017.Kathy Willens/The Associated Press
CC Sabathia was chased during a four-run third inning in his return from the disabled list, with Kendrys Morales hitting a two-run single that helped the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 4-1 Tuesday and stop a five-game losing streak.
Aaron Judge dented a metal casement above a door behind the left-centre field wall with his major league-leading 28th home run, a drive that would have travelled 456 feet had it landed unimpeded, according to MLB's Statcast. The liner rose only 59 feet above the field and was the fourth-hardest-hit homer of the season at 118.4 mph. Judge has the hardest at 121.1 mph and all of the top four.
That was the only run off J.A. Happ (3-5), who allowed four hits in six innings. A 20-game winner last year, Happ has won three of his last four decisions after losing his first four.
Roberto Osuna pitched a perfect ninth to convert his 19th consecutive save chance and 20th overall this season, completing a four-hitter and the Blue Jays' third win in 12 games.
New York has lost 15 of 21 after a 38-23 start, a slide that began the night Sabathia got hurt. The Yankees are 0-5-1 in their last six series heading into Wednesday's rubber game against the Blue Jays.
Judge, who needs one home run to tie Joe DiMaggio's Yankees rookie record, set in 1939, struck out in his other three at-bats, stranding a pair of runners in the fifth.
New York had been 10-3 in starts by Sabathia, who was 5-0 with a 0.99 ERA in six outings before straining his left hamstring on June 13. He lacked control in his return, throwing just 35 of 63 pitches for strikes, and allowed four runs, three hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.
Sabathia retired his first eight batters before walking Darwin Barney, who took second on a wild pitch and scored on Jose Bautista's single. Russell Martin singled, consecutive walks to Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak on full counts forced in a run, and Morales' single finished Sabathia.
Luis Cessa, relegated to the bullpen with Sabathia's return, followed with 4 2/3 innings of five-hit relief.
SLUMPING
Donaldson went 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts, extending his slide to 1 for 26.