NEW YORK — Clarke Schmidt, in his best start of 2023, cruised against a tough Blue Jays lineup on Sunday. Until he didn’t.
The 27-year-old righty was perfect through the early frames, but a fifth inning double from Matt Chapman put that to rest. Then came the sixth inning, when Anthony Volpe’s first career error preempted a two-run home run from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his second of the series. Daulton Varsho immediately followed that with a solo shot in what became a 5-1, series-winning victory for Toronto.
Schmidt’s day ended there on an especially sour note, though his fifth start of the season was also his longest and most efficient. The right-hander, one of three replacement starters in the Yankees’ rotation due to injuries, threw 76 pitches over 5.2 innings while striking out eight Jays for a new career high. Schmidt also allowed a season-low three hits and dropped his ERA to 6.30, but the two longballs proved costly.
