Blue Jays defense is all of the sudden their demise as they lose chance to sweep series

"The Toronto Blue Jays defense had been one of the team's strongest points for the past few seasons and had been elite once again for the most part during the 2025 MLB season. With a .985 fielding percentage, along with 51 defensive runs saved as a team, ranked fourth in the entire league, it had certainly helped the Blue Jays turn games they could have lost into wins. Added to the fact that Toronto has five former Gold Glove winners on their roster, they can be hard to beat."

"The bad omen began right at the start in the first inning after the Jays had gone out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to another Vladimir Guerrero Jr. mammoth home run in the top half of the inning. The usually sure-handed Kiner-Falefa would boot the ball extending the frame, leading to a two-out RBI single by Giancarlo Stanton to get the Yankees on the board. The #Yankees take advantage of Isiah Kiner-Falefa's two-out fielding error as Giancarlo Stanton rips a run-scoring single. Toronto leads 2-1 in the first. pic.twitter.com/Qcr2vM0Pqz- Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) October 8, 2025"

"Later on, the more costly play came after Blue Jays manager John Schneider had subbed out Kiner-Falefa for Addison Barger due to a pinch-hitting situation in the third inning. On a routine shallow fly to left field during the fourth inning, Barger, who came in to play at third, lost track of the ball due to high winds, dropping a sure out that would have kept the bases empty with Trent Grisham due up with two outs. Grisham would end up walking and Aaron Judge would deliver the huge three-run bomb to tie the game in which the Yankees were once trailing 6-1."

The Toronto Blue Jays posted a .985 fielding percentage and 51 defensive runs saved, ranking fourth in MLB and featuring five former Gold Glove winners. Despite season-long defensive excellence, critical miscues in Game 3 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees undermined a potential sweep. Isiah Kiner-Falefa committed an early two-out fielding error that extended the inning and produced an RBI single by Giancarlo Stanton. Later, Addison Barger, inserted after a pinch-hit, dropped a shallow left-field fly amid high winds, leading to a walk and Aaron Judge's three-run homer that tied the game.

Read at Jays Journal