(New York) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lost 42 pounds after a below expectations 2020 season. The 22-year-old Toronto Blue Jays, however, still looks like a powerful puncher.
Guerrero and Randal Grichuk hit a long ball at Domingo Germán's expense as the right-hander returned to the game following a domestic violence suspension, and the Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 3 -1, Sunday.
Guerrero had a hit in each of three games in this series, including a slap to the opposite field early in the second set against Germán.
“He makes training really better,” said Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. This is what we thought could happen. It was a great swing in the opposite field.
It was Guerrero's first home run of the season. In Major Baseball's season watched in 2020, he maintained a .262 batting average with nine long balls in 60 games.
During the winter, Guerrero suffered a severe famine and his teammates noticed all his energy during the spring.
“I feel a lot better this year,” he insisted.
Grichuk hit a two-run homer just inside the left-field boundary post, two hitters past Guerrero. He thus allowed the Torontonians to take away the honors of their first series this season against their rivals in the East section of the American.
“We started the season with confidence,” said Montoyo. It is even higher now. "
TJ Zeuch didn't give a run in four innings at the mound for the Blue Jays, and right-hander Ryan Borucki (1-0) recorded two strikeouts to avoid the worst in the sixth inning.
Julian Merryweather then signed his second save, having been perfect in the ninth.
For his part, Germán (0-1) distributed three runs in three sets in his first start since September 18, 2019. He missed the last campaign while serving an 81-game suspension for breaking the policy against the domestic violence of the Major Leagues, following an incident with his girlfriend.
Germán, 28, was applauded by Yankees fans in right field as he left the enclosure for the warm-up about 35 minutes before the game's opening pitch. He received applause again after completing the first set in 12 shots.
The Yankees right-hander allowed three runs, four hits and a walk in three innings at the mound.
“It was very exciting to come back to the Majors and take part in the competition,” he said. I wanted to stay calm. I had some issues today but overall it was exciting. "
