Recap: Despite Ace-Like Outing from CC Sabathia, Yankees Drop Series to Jays

Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees’ lineup for Thursday’s rubber match against the division rival Toronto Blue Jays. In his two rehab games at Class-AA Trenton, Rodriguez went 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs.

To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Yankees demoted utility man Rob Refsnyder to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Two pitching-related moves also were made prior to the ballgame. Following a poor performance in Wednesday’s outing, Chasen Shreve was transferred to the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. It was LHP Richard Bleier who received the call-up from Triple-A to fill in for his fellow lefty.

On the mound for the Yankees, the resurgent CC Sabathia (3-2, 3.41) went head-to-head with Toronto’s J.A. Happ (5-2, 3.43)

There were five consecutive fly ball outs to start the game, but second baseman Starlin Castro broke the chain with a well-hit pitch that sailed into the Yankees’ bullpen. That homer, which came with empty bases and two outs in the 1st inning, was Castro’s sixth on what’s been an impressive first season with New York to date.

Rodriguez’s first appearance since coming off the DL came in the bottom of the 2nd. He grounded out softly to shortstop on the first pitch of his at-bat. Overall, A-Rod went 0-4 with two strikeouts in the contest.

The Blue Jays were in business in their half of the 3rd. An error from shortstop Didi Gregorius, single from Jose Bautista, and walk surrendered to reigning AL MVP Josh Donaldson loaded the bases with two outs. Edwin Encarnacion drove in two runs with a sharp, one-hop single to left field. CC ended the inning on a check-swing strikeout–his third of the afternoon–but was on the losing end of a 2-1 score after three frames.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Carlos Correa-Giants-Mets bombshell makes Aaron Judge’s return to Yankees even better
• Did Yankees troll Jon Heyman with Aaron Judge contract tweet?
• Matt Carpenter leaving Yankees for massive raise is hard to argue with
• What on earth is going on with Yankees, Fernando Tatis Jr. and flight to New York?
• 4 former Yankees players New York can still reunite with in free agency

Following up a Chase Headley base hit in the bottom of the 5th, Didi extended his hitting streak to nine straight games with a bloop single to left. But the miniature rally ended when first baseman Austin Romine–filling in for the injured Mark Teixeira–bounced into a double play.

Upon completing seven stud innings, and lowering his season ERA to a slim 2.83, CC was lifted in favor of All-Star reliever Dellin Betances. Sabathia departed without a shot at the official win, but he sure pitched well enough to deserve it.

Final line for CC Sabathia: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 7 K

Happ also enjoyed an impressive outing, going a full seven innings while striking out five and limiting the Yankees to just three hits. He was replaced by Gavin Floyd in the 8th.

Jacoby Ellsbury led off the Yankees’ half of the 8th, pinch hitting for Romine, and reached on an infield single to put pressure on the Jays. But Floyd shut down New York’s neutral offense to get the ball to Toronto’s closer, Roberto Osuna.

Before that, Aroldis Chapman made an appearance in the top of the 9th to get some work in and keep the deficit at one, but was touched up for a run on three hits. The left-hander also struck out two and topped out at a blazing 103 mph on the radar gun.

Osuna came on in the 9th and recorded three straight outs to boost the Blue Jays’ record to 24-25. Meanwhile, the Yankees fell two games under .500 at 22-24.

The Bombers hope to avoid losing three in a row as they hit the road going to Tampa. Rotation aces will collide at Tropicana Field in the opener, as Masahiro Tanaka (2-0, 3.24) and Chris Archer (3-5, 5.16) are set to duel under the stadium’s catwalks . First pitch will be at 7:10 PM ET.