Chapman-Vlad Jr. 13-pitch battle leaves Blue Jays, Yankees in awe

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman went toe to toe in an epic showdown on Sunday with the game on the line in the bottom of the ninth.

Guerrero came in to pinch hit with a runner on first base in a one-run game. He then battled Chapman hard during a 13-pitch at-bat, and the veteran eventually won by getting the 20-year-old to ground into a double play.

Players and managers were in awe after New York's 1-0 victory.

“I’ve never seen somebody hit a double-play ball and get a standing ovation from the fans," Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "That at-bat by Vladdy against the best closer in baseball was awesome to watch. I love the way we’re playing. It’s pretty cool."

Blue Jays right-hander Trent Thornton started the game, and he couldn't keep his eyes off the at-bat.

“I was sitting next to (Ryan) Borucki in the locker room, and both of our hands were sweating like crazy,” Thornton said. “If he connects, that thing is going a long, long way. Him, and a lot of other guys on the team, are a lot of fun to watch because anything can happen on any pitch.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone felt the same way.

"That's obviously in a lot of ways the ballgame there, in a very well-played 1-0 game," he said. "You've got a young, rising, great-looking hitter against the game's dominant closer. It was a great match to watch those two go at it."

Catcher Austin Romine also praised Guerrero.

“That was one of the best at-bats of the day by anybody on both sides," Romine said. "They were just battling. It was one of their better hitters and our closer going after it. To come off the bench like that and to hit off Chappy throwing 100 and to foul off some really good sliders down, it was a good at-bat."

Yankees legend Reggie Jackson was impressed, too.

Guerrero's plate appearance was the longest Chapman has endured during his stellar 10-year career, according to Hoch.