A Hero Emerges: Another Ninth-Inning Blast Lifts Yankees over Blue Jays

Hey, we've seen this movie before!

Yesterday we had a classic pitchers' duel that was ultimately settled by a big two-run home run in the ninth for a Yankee victory. But the story doesn't end there. Today, we witnessed another thrilling ninth-inning blast that left us on the edge of our seats.

Will Warren had a tough matchup with the Blue Jays, who are known for their aggressive in-zone hitting. The Jays touched 41 of 46 times they swung the bat against Warren, extending at-bats and making contact on pitches that other hitters might have taken for strikes.

The end result was eight hits, three walks, and only one strikeout for Warren. He threw 98 pitches in just four innings. Meanwhile, Ben Rice was the hero of the game, coming up clutch in the ninth with a home run that sealed the deal for the Yankees.

Off the pitcher's mound, this was in many ways the Anthony Volpe game, as the much-criticized shortstop got it done at the plate and in the field, a scene we haven't seen much of over the past two years.

The bottom of the ninth got a little hairy, with David Bednar allowing a single off Volpe's glove and a double. With Vlad Guerrero Jr. looming in the on-deck circle, Anthony redeemed himself snagging an Alejandro Kirk line drive to end the game and wrap up a series win.

The Yankees are now ten games clear of the third-place Blue Jays and are looking strong in the AL East. The team has managed themselves well in the absence of the game's finest hitter, and we're curious to see how much, if any, credit will go to manager Aaron Boone.

The Yankees welcome the resurgent Chicago White Sox to town on Tuesday, and Gerrit Cole is slated to get the ball with a 7:05 p.m. Eastern first pitch.