Marcus Semien hits a two-run homer from left-center to get the Blue Jays off to a quick start. (0:51).
TORONTO -- Blue Jays slugger Marcus Semien broke a major-league record in home runs by second basemen when he scored his 44th run against Yankees ace Gerrit Colley, in a crucial 6-5 win.
Semien's two-run homer into left field broke the tie with Davey Johnson (1973 in Atlanta) and gave Toronto an early lead against an AL wild card rival.
Rogers Hornsby, with 42 home runs in 1922, and Brian Dozier (42 hits in 2016) were the other big-league second basemen to surpass the 40-homer mark.
Semien's homer was Toronto’s 249th ML-leading hit of the season. They ended the night with 251. From a team perspective, however, it was more important that New York's seven-game win streak was broken and Toronto remained in contention for the American League wild card spots.
New York lost to Baltimore Orioles, who were second in the race for the top spot. Toronto was just one game behind Boston in the race for No. The No. 2 spot was held by Toronto, which is just one game behind Boston. The Seattle Mariners are also in the race for the No. 2.
Semien has hit four home runs this season while playing shortstop. The nine-year-old veteran has made 142 of his first 157 second base starts.
Semien's only hit was his homer, but the Blue Jays as a team were able get to Cole and eventually won the game. Cole allowed five earned runs and nine hits over six innings while striking out six.
Jose Berrios, the Toronto starter, was not involved in the decision. Berrios accomplished something that most starters haven’t been able do in the past two weeks: slow the Yankees. In six innings, he allowed four earned runs and struck out seven.
Bo Bichette, Semien's fellow teammate, homered in the win. He also hit the game-winner in the eighth inning.
Semien signed a $18 million, one-year contract with Toronto this year. Semien finished third in the AL MVP voting with Oakland in 2019, when he hit 33 homers and 92 RBIs, with a.892 OPS. He is expected to be one of the most valuable free agents this offseason.
Semien, 31, had spent most of his career as a shortstop before he left the A's to sign with the Blue Jays. He tied Tyler O'Neill, St. Louis Cardinals's, for the most majors home runs with 11.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
