New York: Russell Martin described the Toronto offence as being “one after another” and the Blue Jays matched that description on Friday with the catcher chipping in with two home runs and four RBIs in an 11-5 victory over the New York Yankees.
Martin began the game hitless in 12 at-bats and struck out during Toronto’s five-run first when third baseman Josh Donaldson and first baseman Justin Smoak sandwiched two-run homers around an RBI single by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
“We definitely feed off one another,” Martin said after getting four RBIs for the 14th time in his career.
“Our lineup has a lot of depth. I don’t think pitchers feel they have breathing room out there. It’s just one after another, good quality at-bats.” Martin snapped his slump with an RBI single that chased rookie right-hander Luis Severino (3-3) with one out in the third.
He began his 10th career multi-homer game by opening the fifth with a big shot off Andrew Bailey into the visiting bullpen beyond the left-center field wall and concluded his second multi-homer game of the year with two-run drive.
“You just want to join the party,” Martin said. You just want to go out there and have a good at-bat.” Martin’s big night was part of Toronto’s 23rd game reaching double-digit runs and the third game this season the Blue Jays had five home runs.
It also was Toronto’s third game with five homers in New York and the first in nearly six years as the Blue Jays opened a season-high 2-1/2 game lead in the American League Central.
Martin’s first home run came after designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion hit a long homer into the second deck.
His second one came after New York shortstop Didi Gregorius turned a 9-2 breeze into a four-run game with a three-run homer off LaTroy Hawkins in the sixth.
“He’s been through it so many time,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said. “That kind of thing doesn’t surprise me. He’s got good power and he was due to heat up.”
While the Toronto offense was getting 16 hits, their best production in New York since Sept. 22, 2007, and getting multi-hit performances from their first seven hitters, the Yankees lost their third straight.
They ended a 28-inning scoreless drought at home when left fielder Brett Gardner lifted a sacrifice fly off left-hander David Price (15-5) in the fourth.
Gregorius had the other run off Price on a night when designated hitter Alex Rodriguez struck out four times for the sixth time in his career and heard some boos after his last one.
