Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Crushes Yankees with No-Doubt Homer

The Toronto Blue Jays made a statement in the American League East race with a 7-1 win over the New York Yankees on Friday night. This victory, in the opener of a pivotal three-game series, extended Toronto’s division lead and marked the return to form of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Jays came out swinging. Their early offense, clutch hitting, and strong pitching showed they’re ready for the playoff push.

Blue Jays Strike Early to Set the Tone

Toronto wasted no time against the Yankees. Facing New York starter Cam Schlittler, the Blue Jays lineup jumped on him right away.

Schlittler lasted just 1.2 innings, throwing 66 pitches before Toronto knocked him out of the game. That’s a testament to the Jays’ patience and relentless approach at the plate.

Guerrero Ignites First-Inning Rally

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set the tone from the start. In his first at-bat, he lined a single to spark a rally, then came around to score on a Bo Bichette double.

It was a sign of things to come for the offense. The Jays mixed timely hitting with sharp execution all night.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Back in MVP Form

After missing five games in August with a hamstring issue, Guerrero struggled to regain his rhythm, hitting just .188 with no extra-base hits in his first nine games back. Now, he looks like he’s flipped the switch.

A Power Surge That Changes Everything

Guerrero’s bat came alive in this series opener. He went 4-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored.

The highlight? In the fifth inning, he hammered a 374-foot opposite-field home run off Ryan Yarbrough — his 23rd of the season and second in as many games. That’s his third straight multi-hit game, and it sure looks like his timing and power stroke are back.

Through 135 games in 2024, Guerrero now boasts a .298 average, .882 OPS, 78 RBI, 92 runs scored, and a 4.4 bWAR. When Guerrero is rolling, the whole team seems to follow his lead.

Team Impact: More Than Just One Star

Guerrero’s performance grabbed headlines, but this win was a full-team effort. The Blue Jays combined sharp hitting, strong pitching, and airtight defense to stifle the Yankees.

Toronto’s pitchers held New York to just one run. That gave the Jays’ bats room to keep applying pressure.

AL East Race Heats Up

With this 7-1 win, the Blue Jays have widened their AL East lead over the Yankees to four games. That’s a big deal as the regular season winds down, since every win and loss can swing playoff seeding.

• Series context: Toronto entered this matchup with a three-game cushion over New York, fresh off a rally against Cincinnati.
• Offensive focus: Early-game execution and patient at-bats set the tone for a decisive win.
• Guerrero’s breakout: Three straight multi-hit games and back-to-back homers signal he’s peaking at the right time.
• Standings impact: The Blue Jays now hold a four-game advantage, an important psychological edge over the Yankees.

What’s Next for Toronto

The Blue Jays will try to keep this momentum through the rest of the series. Taking two of three — or even a sweep — would put them in a great spot heading into the season’s final stretch.

With Guerrero back to slugging and the pitching staff in control, Toronto fans have plenty to feel good about. For the Yankees, they’ll need to regroup fast. Dropping the next game could put them in a tough spot, especially with other playoff contenders closing in.

The Bottom Line

The opener of this series was more than just another game. The Blue Jays didn’t just beat the Yankees; they imposed their style from the very first pitch.

If Guerrero keeps swinging like this and the team stays sharp, Toronto could be in a great spot to chase the AL East title.

—

If you want, I can also put together an **SEO-optimized meta description** and some suggested keywords for this post to help it show up in search results. Just let me know if that’d be helpful.
 
Here is the source article for this story: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. punishes Yankees with no-doubt homer