Yankees shut down in Game 1 by Blue Jays phenom Alek Manoah, who has sensational debut | Rapid reaction

Toronto Blue Jays top pitching prospect Alek Manoah perhaps was a little nervous Thursday when he made his major league debut at Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Yankees leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu walked on four pitches.

After that, the 6-foot-6, 260-pounder who features high-90s fastballs was in complete control.

Manoah shut out the Yankees on two hits over six innings and the Blue Jays took the opener 2-0.

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“His fastball played up a little bit,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Manoah, a 2019 first-round draft pick who struck out seven and walked two. “It looked like he moved it around. He mixed in his secondary well. He was in control the entire game. Four-pitch walk to start the game and then he got his command in line. He had three pitches going for him and we didn’t mount much. You’ve got to tip your cap. He pitched well and beat us.”

The small crowd for a makeup game instead a cheering section of about 40-to-50 strong for Manoah, a 23-year-old native of Miami who also blanked the Yankees for five innings over two spring training outings.

“It was a little odd,” Boone said. “The (4:05 p.m.) time of start obviously, so not a lot of fans in the building and then a heavy Blue Jay contingent with (Manoah’s) friends and family. It was a little unique and different certainly playing here.”

The Blue Jays scored the only runs of the game in the third inning when Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back, two-out homers off Yankees starter Domingo German. Both homers came on pitches that caught too much plate, the first a fastball and second a changeup.

“I was trying to locate those pitches and they were able to make good contact,” German said.

Manoah allowed only two soft hits in his 88-pitch outing, both to Miguel Andujar on a broken-bat single to center in the second and bloop single to right in the fifth. The Yankees’ only other baserunners came in the first inning when leadoff hitter DJ LeMahieu walked on four pitches and in the sixth when Rougned walked with one down.

Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano closed out the win in the seven-inning game by working a 1-2-3 ninth.

German (4-3) had a great outing, too, other than serving up two homers, as he held the Jays to two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings.

“You take away those two pitches it was a good outing,” German said. “I was able to execute pitches … but at the end of the day they were able to get ahead in the game. In a short game, that’s not what you want. Credit to them.”

NOTABLE

— With Toronto winning the first two of a three-game set, the Yankees had their 10-series unbeaten streak snapped. They had eight series wins and two splits in their last 10.

— The Blue Jays lead the season series 6-2.

— Yankees reliever Lucas Luetge worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings. lowering his ERA to 2.66. In his last 12 outings, the lefty has allowed two unearned runs over 13 1/3 innings.

— First baseman Luke Voit (oblique strain) and pitcher Corey Kluber (shoulder strain) were placed on the 10-day injured list.

— Outfielder prospect Estevan Florial was recalled from Triple-A and will start Game 2 after not playing the opener. He’s expected to be optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the doubleheader.

— Reliever Albert Abreu also was called up from Triple-A. The righty is expected to remain with the Yankees through Friday’s game, then be optioned on Saturday when Deivi Garcia is called up to start that night.

— Aaron Hicks had wrist surgery on Wednesday that almost certainly ends his season, Boone said.

— Giancarlo Stanton is expected to come off the injured list on Friday.

— Reliever Nick Nelson was recalled from Triple-A to be the Yankees’ 27th man for Game 2. Toronto couldn’t get an extra player to New York in time for Game 1, so Nelson was ineligible until Game 2.

LOOKING AHEAD

Thursday, Game 2: Blue Jays at Yankees, 7:05 p.m., YES & MLB Network. LHP Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.42) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-1, 4.07).

Friday, Yankees at Tigers, 7:10 p.m., YES. RHP Casey Mise (3-3, 3.42) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (6-2, 1.81).

Saturday, Yankees at Tigers, 4:10 p.m., WPIX & MLB Network. RHP Spencer Turnbull (3-2, 3.12) vs. RHP Deivi Garcia (0-1, 4.50).

Sunday, Yankees at Tigers, 1:10 p.m., WPIX & MLB Network. LHP Tarik Skubal (1-7, 5.23) vs. TBA.

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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.