Sep 5, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) places the house run jacket on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) after Guerrero hit a solo dwelling run the New York Yankees in the course of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Brad Penner-Imagn Photographs Observe to the New York Yankees: Be nicer to the children.
Particularly in the event that they’re named for his or her fathers.
Ken Griffey Jr. as soon as stated he’d by no means signal with the Yankees and would retire in the event that they had been the lone crew to supply him a contract.
It appears when “The Child” was nonetheless one and his dad was enjoying in New York, a safety guard kicked him out of the dugout whereas permitting Graig Nettles’ son to remain on the sector taking grounders.
Griffey Jr. by no means forgot that slight. Within the 1995 American League Division Collection in opposition to New York, Griffey Jr. hit 5 homers and scored the profitable run from first base within the eleventh inning of Recreation 5 on what Seattle Mariners followers nonetheless discuss with as “The Double” by Edgar Martinez.
Quick ahead just a few years and the Yankees kicked a younger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the sector.
It appears protected to say the Toronto Blue Jays’ star nonetheless holds a grudge. In any case, when asked early in his career if he’d ever sign with the Bronx Bombers, Vladdy Jr. replied, “no, not even lifeless.”
Guerrero Jr. batted .529 with three homers, 9 RBIs and an on-base-plus-slugging proportion of 1.609 because the Blue Jays eradicated the Yankees in 4 video games. The clincher got here in a 5-2 victory Wednesday, 30 years to the day after Griffey Jr. raced across the bases.
Guerrero Jr. joined Fox Sports activities’ postgame present from the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium and, as teammates poured beer over his head, he bellowed “DAAA YANKEES LOSE!” in mocking former New York radio broadcaster John Sterling’s signature name.
“To me, it’s one pitch at a time, one hit at a time,” Guerrero Jr. stated. “Whenever you consider in your teammates and also you consider in God, every part occurs. I put this yr in God’s arms, and thank God we gained this sequence.”
The highest-seeded Blue Jays will return home and await the winner of the Detroit-Seattle showdown within the AL Championship Collection. The Tigers averted elimination Wednesday, overcoming a three-run deficit to defeat the visiting Mariners 9-3.
The Tigers will ship ace Tarik Skubal to the mound Friday within the deciding Recreation 5 in Seattle.
“Sitting in my chair, one of many best issues to do and some of the thrilling issues to do is hand the ball to one of the best pitcher in baseball,” Tigers supervisor A.J. Hinch stated.
Not that any ensures include that.
The Mariners defeated Skubal, a former Seattle College standout, twice in the course of the common season.
Skubal didn’t get a choice in Recreation 2 regardless of pitching seven sturdy innings in a sport Seattle ultimately gained 3-2.
“I’ll allow you to guys create the narrative,” Skubal informed reporters. “I’m simply going to do what I do finest, and that’s play baseball and create pitches. The sport continues to be the sport. I’ll allow you to guys write the tales and do your jobs, however you’re not going to get something from me.”
Within the Nationwide League, the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies averted sweeps Wednesday. The Phillies defeated the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 behind a pair of homers from Kyle Schwarber and the host Cubs scored 4 first-inning runs and held on to edge Milwaukee 4-3.
