Yesavage shines as Jays push Yankees to brink

The Toronto Blue Jays have pushed the New York Yankees to the brink.

Rookie Trey Yesavage turned in a historic start in his postseason debut, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. crushed a grand slam, and Daulton Varsho tied an MLB record with four extra-base hits in Toronto's 13-7 win in Game 2 of the ALDS at Rogers Centre on Sunday.

The Blue Jays will look to sweep the Yankees and advance to their first ALCS since 2016 when the series resumes Tuesday in the Bronx.

Toronto outscored New York 23-8 across Games 1 and 2 of the series. The Jays' 23 total runs set a postseason record for the most over the first two contests of a series, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Additionally, they set a franchise record for home runs in a postseason game, while scoring the most runs in a playoff contest since Game 4 of the 1993 World Series, per Stathead.

Yesavage, Toronto's top pitching prospect, was the star of the show Sunday in just the fourth appearance of his MLB career. The 22-year-old set a franchise postseason record with 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings of no-hit ball before departing to a thunderous ovation.

Yesavage became the eighth rookie in playoff history to record 10-plus Ks in a playoff contest and tied the MLB postseason record with six consecutive strikeouts. He's the second-youngest pitcher to have a 10-strikeout game in the playoffs, per Langs.

Toronto's bats jumped all over Yankees starter Max Fried, who allowed seven earned runs on eight hits over three-plus innings. Will Warren relieved Fried and allowed Guerrero's grand slam - the first in Blue Jays playoff history - to make it 9-0.

Guerrero finished his day 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Varsho, meanwhile, went 4-for-5 with two homers and two doubles while scoring four runs. He's the sixth player ever to record four extra-base hits in a postseason game and the third to do it while hitting at least two home runs, according to Tyler Kepner of The Athletic.

Ernie Clement and George Springer also homered for Toronto. Springer's blast was his 20th career playoff round-tripper, moving him into a tie with Derek Jeter for fifth all time.

The Yankees scored seven runs against Toronto's bullpen after Yesavage was lifted, with five of those coming in the top of the seventh against Eric Lauer and Tommy Nance. Mason Fluharty, Louis Varland, and Seranthony Domínguez then combined for 2 1/3 scoreless frames to close out New York.