Blue Jays go Bronx Bombing as Semien hits pair in win over Yankees

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Vlad Guerrero Jr has become the first great player to hit 40 home runs for the Blue Jays this season, but he might have you soon.

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The young slugger made franchise history when he reached that pinnacle for the first time in the Bronx 8-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday.

But second-back Marcus Semien’s incredible record continued as he had two hosts in a high-impact win, taking his career high to 37.

Semien, a steady perennial presence in the Jays lineup, opened the game with a solo hit in the first round and opened the ninth round with a mammoth damage hit. He then heaped praise on his 22-year-old teammate for surpassing the milestone that usually defines a major slugger player.

Semien said of Guerrero: “He is very talented and knows how to turn his body. “It’s so scrary. Looks like Vladdy has been stable the whole time. He dominates his singles, but he also takes you deep.”

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With 26 games left for three more, Semien could join Guerrero, which will be the third time the Jays have had a heady pair at the 40 mark and the first time since 2015.

Semien said: “I never really thought about it as a young man, but 2019 opened my eyes wide as I turned 30. “Anything is possible if you’re feeling hot. “

Of course, more significantly than the home team the Jays continued to heat up at the most crucial moment of the season.

Undoubtedly, the Jays are flexing their muscles for a playoff spot right now, matching a season-high five-game winning streak while winning eight of their past nine games.

Even better, when Tampa Bay returned from a seven-game shortfall in an 11-10 win over Boston, the Jays were just three games behind the Red Sox for a second AL wildcard spot and 3.5 games behind the Yankees.

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“Having that killer instinct, realizing what is at stake,” Semien said of Jays current thinking. “Sweep game (of A) at home, won 8-0 at Yankee Stadium. I think that will give us a certain amount of confidence.”

The first of four against a reeling group of Yankees is the latest. The Yanks are now down three games in a row and seven of the nine they have played since ending a 13-game winning streak. And yes, the Pinstripers are feeling it.

“We had to make it roll around confusingly,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of his slow bats. “We have to do better than that.

“These are big time games right now. We have to dig ourselves out of this little fun. “

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Back to Guerrero and the historical context associated with his big season. The 22-year-old just became the 10th Jays member to hit 40 and is by far the youngest person in franchise history to do so.

“I have the front row to watch this whole season,” said Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. “It’s fun to watch someone so young eat a plate so well.”

There are plenty of seasons left to add to those numbers for Guerrero, who now has the best 14-match record of his career. His dad hit 40 only twice, reaching 42 in 1999 and 44 in 2000, both for the Montreal Expos.

Guerrero became only the 10th player in MLB history to have 40 home seasons at the age of 22 or younger.

Meanwhile, it’s been a day of competition more than four hours for the Jays, who have scored 37 runs in their past four games.

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The game started with the Jays bats exploding the same way they did when they wiped out the Athletics in a three-game weekend series at Rogers Center with Semien and Guerrero launching back-to-back hosts.

The silent attack for a while with Yankees starter Jameson Taillon kept the Jays out for the next five innings. The struggling Yankees failed to reach Toronto starter-Jin Ryu, who returned to his efficient form, throwing six innings while allowing only three on target.

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GAME ON

Ryu’s exit was something of a head scratch, as he only made 80 throws, but after the match, the Korean leftist said he felt a slight tightness in his elbow and suggested to Montoyo that he should finish the afternoon early… Ryu says that the discomfort will not require medical attention and that he will resume work on Tuesday to start next time… Montoyo will not rule out giving George Springer rested for a day or two as DH continued to be plagued by his left knee injury. Springer fouled a ball from the unprotected knee in the eighth inning and hobbled off… After an 8-0 win over Team A on Sunday, Jays had a straight shot and now have 14 points on the top. season pitch… The Jays have improved to 7-6 against the Yankees this season and 5-2 against the Bronx… Ryu is 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in five games against the Yankees this season.

THROUGH THE BASES

More power is on the way for the Jays bullpen as right-hander Julian Merryweather joins Jays in the Bronx and is expected to be activated at some point during the eight-fight, seven-day road trip… Catcher Ross Stripling’s first start is with three A Buffaloes for a detox mission and possibly rejoining the Jays on a road trip and making a lengthy pick out of the cowshed.

rlongley@postmedia.com