SAD NEWS: New York Yankees announced that Oswaldo Cabrera is Leaving immediately after Facing…..
NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Ernie Clement had a tiebreaking solo home run off Caleb Ferguson leading off the seventh inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Yankees 3-0 Friday in New York’s home opener.
“The Toronto faithful may not like this but I was the biggest Yankees fan growing up, so I’m glad we could kick their (butt),” said Clement, who grew up in Rochester, New York.
A 28-year-old who appeared in just 35 major league games over the previous two seasons, Clement drove the second pitch from Ferguson (0-1) into the left-field seats for his first career pinch homer.
He was the first Toronto pinch hitter to give the Blue Jays the lead from the seventh inning on since Justin Smoak at Miami on Aug. 31, 2018.
“I just like to keep it simple,” Clement said. “I’m up there looking for a fastball to drive and do damage on, and he laid one in there and I’m just glad I could come through for these guys.”
Juan Soto went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts in his pinstripes debut, slamming his bat and helmet after making the final out of the eighth.
He bowed to fans in right field in the top of the first and was greeted with a standing ovation when he came to the plate in the bottom half.
Soto is in a 1-for-16 slide after a 9-for-17 start.
