Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s go-ahead hit sinks the Yankees to kick off the crucial series

The Blue Jays faced their most important game of the season, needing their top player to step up at a critical moment.

In Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s young career, this felt like the 100th time he had dismantled the Yankees—this time with a go-ahead two-run single that, had Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s glove connected, might have been knocked away entirely.

This 5-4 victory showcased the Blue Jays at their best, though it was not their most dominant win this season. Toronto has won by larger margins and with more authority, but a packed Rogers Centre today perfectly reflected the ideal form of the Blue Jays. Since spring training began in Dunedin, Florida, hitting coach David Popkins and his staff have worked to break free from the team's long-standing reliance on a single tactical approach.

“Power hitting isn’t just one style,” Popkins said at the time, “They have all the ways.”

Guerrero’s 115.7 mph line drive that slipped under Chisholm’s glove was a highlight, but the inning’s foundation was built on slower, tougher, and more “gritty” details.

Myles Straw acted first when Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s errant throw to third baseman Davis Schneider allowed Straw to advance an extra base. Manager John Schneider made a key move, replacing Jonatan Clase with pinch hitter Nathan Lukes, who delivered an RBI single; then, due to a passed ball by Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra, Lukes advanced another base, setting the stage for Vladimir — exactly the kind of chaos the Blue Jays want from their lineup’s bottom end.

“A big win,” Guerrero said through the team translator, “We all stuck to our roles and fought through. This is a significant victory.”

If every game played out like this, the Blue Jays would be a nightmare to watch, but 2025 hasn’t been that way. This team seems capable of adapting and winning in different ways rather than forcing a “one-size-fits-all” approach every night. The lineup still needs more power balance (a priority before the July 31 trade deadline), but progress is slow; the returns of Daulton Varsho and Anthony Santander should help.

The crowd’s reaction matched the moment—Toronto’s most electric home atmosphere of the season. Fans understood the significance of the series against the AL East-leading Yankees and knew what the city could look like over the next three months or longer if things go well.

“The crowd was incredible. Max Scherzer’s exit under a full house showed how big this game was,” Schneider said. “It’s a great feeling. Even though it’s June and tomorrow’s July, tomorrow is a big day for the team and the country (Canada Day). It’s going to be a special day.”

To win games like this, opponents must also give opportunities. Scherzer pitched five innings with just 71 pitches, striking out seven and only making one mistake—a slider to Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fourth inning that was hit for a two-run homer to right field. At the end of the fifth, he was checked by trainers for a recurring right thumb injury; however, details like his two strikeouts against Aaron Judge and others likely inspired the Blue Jays even more than the win itself.

“That’s exactly what we fight for,” Scherzer said. “We battle to win games like this with everyone contributing. The team effort feels great. Seeing the team fight back when behind, especially Lukes advancing on a deep throw? Those small moments add up to why we’re a strong team. They (the Yankees) lead the division, and we want to take that spot.”

The Blue Jays are now one step closer to their goal, trailing the Yankees by just two games. With July just beginning, if they keep up this level of play, the stakes will only grow higher.