Austin Wells capped a six-run third inning with a bases-loaded double off a frustrated Kevin Gausman as the host New York Yankees rolled to an 11-2 rout over the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a doubleheader on Sunday.
Wells gave New York a 6-1 lead with a double off the base of the right-center field fence on a full-count fastball, knocking Gausman out of the game. Wells had fallen behind 0-2 before working the full count and fouling off consecutive fastballs.
Before Wells doubled, Cody Bellinger lifted a two-strike sacrifice fly to score Oswaldo Cabrera as the tying run. Jazz Chisholm Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk ahead of Anthony Volpe, who fouled off two full-count pitches before a free pass.
Gausman (2-3) threw a career-high 53 pitches in the decisive third and grew increasingly frustrated with plate umpire Chris Conroy’s strike zone. Gausman began yelling at Conroy walking off the mound and was ejected when he continued the argument from the dugout.
Gausman allowed six runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings. The right-hander issued five walks and struck out two after throwing 18 pitches in the opening two innings.
Volpe added a solo homer and Cabrera hit a two-run double in a three-run fifth off reliever Paxton Schultz. Paul Goldschmidt contributed an RBI double in the sixth as the Yankees scored double-digit runs for the fourth time this season.
Bellinger also scored on a fielding error by Toronto shortstop Ernie Clement in the eighth for New York’s final run.
Aaron Judge had two hits to extend his on-base streak to 23 games and ended the game with a .412 batting average.
New York’s Max Fried (5-0) settled in after throwing 27 pitches in the opening inning and allowed one run on six hits in six innings. The left-hander struck out three, walked two and won his seventh straight decision dating to last season.
Bo Bichette singled and scored on a groundout by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning for the Blue Jays, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Toronto added its second run on a double by Addison Barger in the ninth but the Blue Jays went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position on a day when they totaled 11 hits.
Gausman was not the only ejection for Toronto. Manager John Schneider got tossed in the fifth by arguing a 1-0 pitch that was called a strike on Guerrero.
