TORONTO — The Yankees are expecting to add right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga to the bullpen Wednesday, Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
Loaisiga has been out with a right shoulder strain since Sept. 5.
Before the injury, Loaisiga had been the Yankees’ most effective reliever. Before he allowed a run in his most recent outing, Sept. 3, Loaisiga had given up just one run in 15 appearances, covering a span of 18 ²/₃ innings.
Luis Severino, a recent addition to the bullpen after his return from February 2020 Tommy John surgery, pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth Tuesday. Gerrit Cole was impressed by Severino’s first two outings, when he threw a combined four shutout innings.
“I was pleasantly surprised by his feel for his off-speed pitches,’’ Cole said. “He’s been tremendously sharp. It’s been an emotional pick-me-up for us and for Yankees fans to see him back out there.”
Giancarlo Stanton, whose three-run homer in the seventh broke the game open, was the designated hitter, but Boone said that wasn’t because of the artificial turf in Toronto.
“I considered putting [Stanton] out there,’’ Boone said. “Turf was not a factor, especially at this point of the season, when I’m gonna give us the best chance to win.”
Gio Urshela, who went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, is in a bit of a hot stretch. He is 17-for-47 (.362) with nine runs, a double, three homers and six RBIs in his past 13 games.
That followed an ugly eight games in which the third baseman turned shortstop went 3-for-23 with no extra-base hits or walks — and 10 strikeouts.
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