Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Grand Slam Deepens Yankees’ Rough Stretch

This article dives into one of the wildest postseason games in recent memory—Game 2 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. What started as a supposed pitching showdown between Yankees ace Max Fried and Toronto’s rookie Trey Yesavage turned into a Blue Jays slugfest.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched a grand slam that sent shockwaves through the baseball world. The game was pure chaos: momentum swung back and forth, bats caught fire, and a rookie stepped up while a star began building his October legacy.

Blue Jays Flip the Script Early

The Yankees came in thinking they had the edge on the mound with Max Fried. He’s usually as steady as they come.

Toronto wasn’t having it. Rookie Trey Yesavage, making just his fourth big-league start, needed help from the lineup—and wow, did they deliver.

Toronto’s Early Onslaught

By the middle innings, Fried had already given up seven earned runs. He just couldn’t locate his pitches and left too many over the plate.

The Blue Jays pounced. Rookie reliever Will Warren didn’t stem the tide, and Guerrero Jr. crushed a grand slam that ESPN’s Jeff Passan called “one of the most spectacular grand slams ever.”

• Guerrero had gone 6-for-7 in the series up to that point.
• The Yankees, meanwhile, were just 6-for-44.
• The grand slam made it 9-0, Toronto.

Power Surge Defines the Game

Guerrero’s slam wasn’t the end of it. Toronto kept pouring it on, and by the fifth inning, the scoreboard flashed a ridiculous 12-0 lead.

They’d already hit five home runs—that’s the kind of number that gets you remembered in Blue Jays playoff lore.

Home Run Hitters Shine

Dalton Varsho led the way with two homers, showing patience and a knack for punishing mistakes. George Springer and Ernie Clement chipped in with solo shots, piling on the misery for the Yankees’ pitchers.

For Yesavage, all that run support was a luxury. But honestly, his pitching showed he wasn’t just along for the ride.

Trey Yesavage’s Breakout Postseason Debut

Yesavage deserves plenty of credit. He faced a Yankees lineup that’s seen it all and held them scoreless early, mixing speeds and attacking the zone with surprising poise.

The Bullpen Wobbles

Things got dicey when Toronto’s bullpen came in. The Yankees put together a wild rally, scoring seven runs and cutting the lead to 13-7 by the eighth inning.

It’s a reminder—no postseason lead is ever totally safe, especially against that kind of firepower.

Closing the Door

With momentum threatening to flip, the Blue Jays called on Louis Varland in relief. His job? Shut the door on the Yankees’ comeback and lock up the win.

Varland came through, holding the line and locking in a 2-0 series advantage for Toronto.

Guerrero Jr.’s Defining Moment

Guerrero Jr.’s grand slam is the moment everyone will remember. In October, sometimes it just takes one swing to change everything.

Guerrero owns the spotlight now, and Toronto’s hopes ride with him as the series rolls on.

Final Thoughts

Game 2 of the ALDS turned into a wild ride for the Blue Jays. Their offense came out swinging, and a rookie pitcher found his groove at just the right time.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped up with a swing that felt like it could shift the whole postseason. The Yankees tried to rally, but they’ll probably head home wondering how things unraveled so fast in those early innings.

Now, as the series moves on, Toronto holds the momentum. Nights like this don’t happen often, and you can’t help but wonder if that one big moment will echo through the rest of October.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launches grand slam as Yankees beatdown continues