NEW YORK — The Toronto Blue Jays have officially ended the New York Yankees’ postseason run, defeating them 5–2 in Game 4 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) and advancing to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2016.
The victory at Yankee Stadium silenced the home crowd and sent a wave of pride through Canada.
Game Highlights
Early Momentum: George Springer led off with a double, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with an RBI single to give Toronto an early 1–0 lead.
Yankees Respond: New York’s Ryan McMahon hit a solo homer in the third to tie the game.
Toronto Takes Control: The Jays built their lead through the middle innings. A sacrifice fly from Springer restored the lead, Nathan Lukes added a two-run single in the seventh, and Myles Straw sealed it with an RBI in the eighth.
Bullpen Masterclass: With no regular starter available, manager John Schneider deployed a bullpen-by-committee approach using eight pitchers, including opener Louis Varland, who allowed just one run over two innings. The strategy paid off, holding New York to two runs across nine innings.
Closing Out the Series: Jeff Hoffman delivered the final outs, striking out Cody Bellinger to end the game and clinch the series 3–1.
Guerrero Jr.: “We Have a Whole Country Behind Us”
Speaking after the game, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said the win meant more than just baseball.
“Maybe some people didn’t believe in us, but we have an entire country that does,” he said, echoing the pride of Canadian fans.
Guerrero finished the series hitting .529 with three home runs and nine RBIs, establishing himself as the emotional and offensive leader of the team.
The Manager’s Chess Game
Manager John Schneider compared his Game 4 bullpen strategy to “a chess match.” The decision to use a sequence of relievers — rather than a traditional starter — was bold but effective, keeping Yankee hitters guessing all night.
“We viewed it as an opportunity to do what we’re good at,” Schneider said postgame.
Yankees Reflect and Regroup
For the Yankees, the loss marked the end of a frustrating season. Manager Aaron Boone credited Toronto’s performance:
“We got beat here. Credit to the Blue Jays — they earned it.”
Former Yankee Alex Rodriguez called the team’s roster “one of the weakest in recent memory,” while Aaron Judge expressed disappointment: “You play to win — anything less isn’t acceptable.”
Historical Significance
This was the first postseason meeting ever between the Blue Jays and Yankees, despite decades of rivalry in the same division. Both teams ended the regular season with identical records, but Toronto claimed the AL East via a tiebreaker.
The Jays’ last ALCS appearance came in 2016, when they fell to Cleveland. Their most recent World Series victory was in 1993 — back-to-back championships that remain legendary in Canadian sports.
What’s Next
The Blue Jays will now face the winner of the Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers series in the ALCS, which begins October 12.
Toronto will host Game 1 at Rogers Centre, where a sold-out crowd is expected as fans dream of another Canadian championship run.
