Goldschmidt's late homer lifts Yankees past Blue Jays 3-1, spoiling Gausman's outing

New York Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt (48) hits a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during ninth inning MLB baseball action in Toronto, Saturday, June 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO — Paul Goldschmidt belted a two-run homer in the ninth inning off closer Louis Varland to give the New York Yankees a 3-1 win and settle a pitchers’ duel between Toronto Blue Jays veteran Kevin Gausman and Cam Schlittler on Saturday.

It was the first homer Varland (3-2) allowed this season and spoiled a solid one-hit effort from Gausman as the Yankees (42-27) won for the fifth time in six outings.

The Blue Jays (34-37) have gone 4-4 with the finale of their nine-game homestand on Sunday.

Both Gausman and Schlittler yielded early homers to Jasson Dominguez and Kazuma Okamoto in the fourth and third innings, respectively. Okamoto’s homer down the left-field line came a day after he soared a two-run blast into the fifth deck in left field.

Gausman tossed a season-high 105 pitches in his seven innings. He struck out seven and walked a pair of New Yorkers. He fanned his final batter, Spencer Jones, to end his day and gave a little extra effort in the customary fling of his gum in front of the Blue Jays dugout.

Schlittler, the American League leader in ERA at 1.82, also went seven innings. He struck out seven but walked four in his 101-pitch effort before 42,364 at Rogers Centre.

Fernando Cruz (4-1) walked the bases loaded in the eighth, but survived to get the win. David Bednar picked up his 14th save.

Takeaways

Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had the day off with a tight back. Charles McAdoo started in place of Guerrero at first base and fouled out with the bases loaded at the Yankees’ dugout in the eighth.

Yankees: Outfielder and leadoff hitter Trent Grisham was placed on the 10-day injured list after suffering a right hamstring strain sliding into second base in the series opener on Friday.

Key moment

With Yankees on first and third with two out in the eighth, McAdoo made a diving stop on a Dominguez hard-hit grounder to end the inning.

Key stat

Ernie Clement’s second-inning single to right field increased his AL-leading hit total to 83. He also leads in doubles with 20.

Up next

Toronto lefty Patrick Corbin (2-3) will face Yankees righty Will Warren (7-1) in the series rubber match on Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2026.

Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press