The 2025 Blue Jays solidified they’re a special team with ALDS victory over Yankees

Their play over the last two months was hit or miss, but they were able to cling to the top spot in not just the American League East but also finish with the best record in the American League for the first time since 1992 and 1993. Thanks to finishing with the best record, the Jays earned a bye and home-field advantage until at least the World Series.

Like the fairly impulsive person I am, I bought a ticket to Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series, ironically against the Yankees. In my lifetime, I had been to seven prior games, including Kevin Gausman’s nine-inning shutout in mid-September. Never in my lifetime did I feel the way I felt during Game 1.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk hit home runs in the first two innings, and despite not being able to see the home runs well due to an obstructed view, it was awesome. The Yankees weren’t out of it, as they cut the Blue Jays’ lead in half.

Entering the bottom of the seventh up 2-1, the tension was palpable in Rogers Centre. Daulton Varsho led off the inning with a walk, followed by an Anthony Santander single to put runners on first and second with no outs. Andrés Giménez stepped up to the plate and sneaked a ball through the infield, scoring a run, but the arena was still on edge. Ernie Clement bunted into a forceout, bringing up George Springer, who took a walk. 

Nathan Lukes was the next batter up. It was a five-pitch at-bat, and the first four pitches were torture; it felt like the stadium was going to erupt with a base hit. Then, it happened, Lukes hit a high fastball for a double, giving the Jays some breathing room.

Guerrero Jr. hit a sac fly to make it 6-1, then Alejandro Kirk hit his second home run of the game to make it 7-1. The Jays tacked on three more runs for a 10-1 victory, but Lukes’ double turned the game from a stressful affair to a party of sorts.

The game ended, I hopped on the GO train to go back to my hotel, and as I was on my way back to the suburbs, I thought to myself, “I’m here in the GTA, why not buy another ticket?”. After getting back to the hotel, I ordered in some Harvey’s and made the decision: I am going to Game 2.

On Sunday, I woke up with limited sleep and once again boarded the GO Train, hoping for a good result but nervous about rookie Trey Yesavage starting the game after just three big league starts. Boy, was the impulse decision to buy a ticket to Game 2 ever the right one.

There were two storylines from the second game of the series: The offence and Trey Yesavage’s fantastic start. Let’s start with the offence. Varsho hit a double and got the third base on an Aaron Judge error. I sat down, but the fans in front of me did not. It didn’t take me long to get on my feet, though, as Clement hit a first-pitch home run off Max Fried.

The Jays went on to score three more runs in the bottom of the third, but the biggest moment of the game came in the bottom of the fourth. Giménez hit a single, while Myles Straw and Springer drew a walk. After Davis Schneider struck out, up stepped Guerrero Jr., who hit a no-doubt grand slam to give the Jays a 9-0 lead.

Sure, the Yankees pounced on the Jays’ bullpen once Yesavage was pulled, but they kept on hitting, getting two home runs from Varsho, as well as a home run from Springer. The hitting alone made this game unforgettable, but it was made even more special thanks to Yesavage.

Just two Yankee runners made it on base when Yesavage was on the mound. Judge earned a walk in the first inning, and an error from Guerrero Jr. in the top of the fifth allowed Jazz Chisholm Jr. to reach. Other than that, Yesavage threw five and one-third perfect innings, striking out 11 batters in what was one of the best playoff debuts in history. In the end, the Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 13-7, as the Yankees were able to get to Justin Bruihl, Eric Lauer, and Tommy Nance.

I’ve been watching sports my entire life and now cover two sports. Trust me when I say that here aren’t a ton of moments that have overwhelmed me, at least in the moment. José Bautista’s home run in the ALDS is one of them, and so is Jordan Eberle’s game-tying goal in the 2009 World Juniors. That’s pretty much it.

After a weekend in the GTA, I must admit that those two games are now included in that category, as I’ve never experienced anything like that in my lifetime. To say I was overwhelmed with emotions would be an understatement, and it’s truly impossible to put into words how special this team is after the Jays’ ALDS victory.