Yankees’ historic power display clobbers Blue Jays, sweep secured | Rapid reaction

NEW YORK — Clark Griswold’s Christmas lights. Popeye after a can of spinach.

Neither could have matched the Yankees’ incredible power display in Thursday’s 10-7 win over the Blue Jays.

The Yankees crushed five home runs in the fourth inning — the first time in franchise history they hit so many bombs in an inning and the seventh time it’s happened in MLB history. They also set an MLB record with 19 blasts in a three-game set, which the Yankees swept to put Toronto 2 1/2 games behind them for second place in the division.

They started the day 3 1/2 games back of the Rays in the American League East and have 11 games remaining in the regular season.

They have won consecutive games since Luke Voit called them out for playing like “crap” in the midst of a 5-15 skid.

The Yankees desperately want to at least catch the Twins, who had three games on them in the win column going into Thursday, so that they can secure the fourth playoff seed and home-field advantage in the first round. The Yankees this season are 21-7 at home and 8-14 on the road.

On Friday, the Yankees travel to Boston to start a three-game series. Because of the playoff bubble, they won’t spend another night at home in their beds until they’re booted from the postseason or win the World Series.

The Yankees’ might backed a stellar performance from Masahiro Tanaka, who breezed through seven innings, surrendering just three runs. His ERA dropped to 3.27 as he struck out five and scattered seven hits, including a pair of home runs.

Adam Ottavino pitched a scoreless eighth. Jonathan Holder gave up a run and then loaded the bases with one out for the Yankees, who were forced to bring in closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman let three of Holder’s runs score before ending the threat.

The Yankees got all six of their homers from different players.

It was Brett Gardner, DJ LeMahieu, Luke Voit, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres who combined for five blasts in six batters in the fourth inning that saw the Yankees go from a 2-all tie to a 9-2 lead. Inexplicably, they all came off Chase Anderson.

Gary Sanchez added a solo bomb to left field in the seventh.

A rundown of the fourth-inning fireworks:

Brett Gardner: Two-run shot to center field with no outs, scoring Gary Sanchez, who had just doubled. It traveled 412 feet

DJ LeMahieu: Solo shot to right field, 349 feet.

Luke Voit: Solo homer to right-center field, 398 feet.

Aaron Hicks: Swinging strike out.

Giancarlo Stanton: Solo homer to right-center field, 418 feet.

Gleyber Torres: Solo homer to left-center field, 428 feet.

Stanton finished with four hits in five at-bats, his second game since spending a month and a half on the injured list. For Sanchez, it was his first multi-hit game of the year. He’s played 42 games. Voit’s home run was his league-leading 20th as he continues to state his AL MVP case.

Aaron Judge didn’t play. The Yankees wanted to rest him after he played Wednesday, his first game back from the IL and a right calf strain.

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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

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