TORONTO — A wild sixth-inning play Friday night gave the Toronto Blue Jays a run but also forced slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to leave the game after taking a knee to the head.
The Blue Jays scored twice in the frame and went on to beat the New York Yankees 3-1, but the status of their first baseman remained uncertain after the game.
“He had a little bit of a headache,” said Toronto manager John Schneider. “Just took him out (as a) precautionary (move) right now. We’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Guerrero scored Toronto’s first run after New York made two errors on cross-diamond throws.
With two runners on, George Springer hit a chopper to Ryan McMahon, who stepped on third base for the force but made a low throw to first.
Luis Garcia Jr. couldn’t corral the ball and then threw back to third base before shortstop George Lombard Jr. was in position. Lombard’s left knee hit the side of Guerrero’s head as he slid toward the bag, sending his helmet flying.
Guerrero touched third and trotted home as the ball rolled into foul territory.
He winced after crossing home plate and was briefly tended to by trainer Jose Ministral before walking to the dugout. Guerrero was replaced by Charles McAdoo.
“(He’ll undergo) full concussion testing and things like that,” Schneider said. “You’ve always got to be a little bit careful and we’ll see how he wakes up tomorrow and go from there.”
Springer scored the go-ahead run on an Alejandro Kirk double. Kirk added an insurance run with a solo homer in the eighth inning.
Shane Bieber (4-2) threw six strong innings for the win and Louis Varland earned his 27th save as Toronto (60-64) won for the fourth time in five games.
“I was able to make pitches when I needed to,” Bieber said. “I thought the defence played great behind me.”
Trent Grisham hit a solo homer in the sixth inning for New York and Gerrit Cole (6-6) shouldered the loss.
Schneider said there were “a lot of moving parts” on the sixth-inning play.
“I didn’t really see it in real time, the knee to the head,” he said. “You’re looking for obstruction there to make sure he scores. And you know George did a good job of getting to second (base).
“But there was a lot going on for sure. But guys (were) leaving it out there.”
It was the opener of a six-game road trip for the Yankees (68-54), who have the second-best record in the American League behind East Division-leading Tampa Bay.
The Blue Jays, who outhit the Yankees 8-5, moved one game behind the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers in the race for the final AL wild-card spot.
The Tigers lost to the Chicago White Sox 9-5 while the Rangers were scheduled to play a late game against the Athletics.
The Blue Jays have a 10-3 record — regular season and playoffs — against the Yankees at Rogers Centre since the start of last season.
