TORONTO — A three-run homer from Juan Soto and a two-run homer from Gleyber Torres in the sixth inning propelled the New York Yankees to a 16-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
The victory ended the Yankees’ four-game losing streak, the club’s longest this season. She also stopped the Blue Jays’ two-game winning streak in front of 34,791 fans at the Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi (4-8) gave up just one run in the first five innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven. But Jahmai Jones and Anthony Volpe singled in the sixth, and then Soto homered to right field to end Kikuchi’s night.
Three batters later, J.D. Davis doubled to Aaron Judge, then Torres followed with a two-run homer off reliever Nate Pearson.
“There were probably times where we could have scored more runs and we could have played better defensively,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It’s very frustrating to waste a good outing (by Kikuchi) like that.”
Former Blue Jays Marcus Stroman was excellent for four innings. He gave up a run in the first inning when George Springer allowed Bo Bichette to cross home plate with a single. It was a ninth RBI in three games and fourth straight hit for Springer.
The Blue Jays scored two runs off Stroman in the fifth to eliminate him from the game.
The Blue Jays loaded the bases when Spencer Horwitz was hit by a pitch. A groundout by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led off Horwitz in the second, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored a run.
A free pass to Justin Turner put three runners on base again, and the Blue Jays scored another run when Springer was also hit. He later left the game with a left hand injury.
Stroman gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Guerrero hit his 13th homer of the season off reliever Luke Weaver in the seventh inning. It was his fifth home run in seven games.
The Yankees added seven runs in the ninth and totaled 18 hits in the game. Reliever Michael Tonkin (3-3) signed the victory.
