Cease's no-hit bid ends in seventh as Blue Jays edge Yankees

NEW YORK — Dylan Cease carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Nathan Lukes’ homer in the eighth inning was the difference as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Saturday.

Cease’s bid for his second career no-hitter and the second in Toronto history ended with two outs in the seventh on a single to right field by Jazz Chisholm Jr. on his 106th pitch. Cease allowed an RBI single to Austin Wells that cut Toronto’s lead to 3-1 before being replaced by Spencer Miles.

Cease allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander tied a season-high with five walks and struck out eight. Cease threw 60 of 111 pitches for strikes. It was the second time this season Cease had a deep no-hit bid and second time he lost a no-hitter at Yankee Stadium.

Cease lost a no-hitter in the ninth inning July 8 at San Francisco and his bid for another on May 7, 2025, with San Diego at Yankee Stadium.

Miles hit José Caballero with a pitch to load the bases before retiring Trent Grisham on a ground ball to first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tyler Rogers allowed a two-run homer to Luis García Jr. in the eighth and Louie Varland struck out Grisham with a runner on third for his 29th save in 30 chances.

Toronto finished with 15 hits and scored its first three runs RBI singles by George Springer, rookie Charles McAdoo and Lukes as a pinch hitter. Lukes added his eighth homer of the season in the eighth. Guerrero had two hits in his return from the seven-day concussion list.

New York starter Ryan Weathers (5-8) allowed two runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings before leaving with left forearm discomfort. The Yankees said the left-hander was going for further imaging.

Up next: Blue Jays José Soriano (10-6, 3.23 ERA) opposes Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.22) in Sunday’s series finale.

Yankees' lineup changes for finale

The Yankees will look to bounce back in Sunday's series finale after the 4-3 loss. They announced changes to their lineup, most notably the return of Cody Bellinger, who will bat fourth and play left field in his first game in a month due to injury. Bellinger takes over the cleanup spot from Luis Garcia Jr., who moves to third.

The full batting order for Sunday: Trent Grisham CF, Ben Rice DH, Luis Garcia Jr. 1B, Cody Bellinger LF, George Lombard Jr. SS, Spencer Jones RF, Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B, Austin Wells C, Jose Caballero 3B.

Spencer Jones, who batted fifth in Saturday's game and finished with one walk, one strikeout and one stolen base, moves down to sixth in the order.

Rookie duo's growing impact

The Yankees took two of three games over the weekend after winning 8-3 on Sunday. Shortstop George Lombard Jr. and outfielder Spencer Jones have both been productive throughout August. Lombard Jr. recorded two hits and two runs on Sunday, while Jones also finished with two hits and two runs, along with an RBI and a walk.

Jones made his MLB debut in May, while the Yankees called Lombard Jr. up on Aug. 4. The two spent plenty of time playing together at Triple-A before reaching the majors.

Following Sunday's win, Jones spoke about sharing the field with Lombard Jr.: "Playing with George? It's fun," Jones said. "He told me after he scored, he's like, 'Man, I feel like we've been doing that a lot.' Where he gets on base and I hit a ball in the gap and let him run around the bases. So it's fun to be able to do that with him, do that with him here, and then just watch the kid play every day because he wants it more than anybody and he's going to give it every day. I'm just glad everybody gets to see it."

Lombard Jr. is certainly going to be a massive piece of the Yankees' success down the stretch, and Jones could play an important role as well following the latest injury news on Giancarlo Stanton.

Cease's near-miss and managerial decision

Cease's latest no-hit bid featured five walks and a rising pitch count into the seventh inning. It made Blue Jays manager John Schneider's decision on when to lift his ace a little less agonizing.

"I'm just trying to throw strikes and execute pitches really," Cease said. "It's obviously hard to do things like that and if I give up a hit, then it's just meant to be I guess."

Cease threw seven fewer pitches than his July 8 attempt at San Francisco, where he lost the no-hitter in the ninth. After that game, Schneider said he was willing Cease to keep going because he was a "fan of baseball" and because the game occurred shortly before the All-Star break.

"You kind of want to do what's right for him in the moment," Schneider said after Saturday's win. "You want to do what's right for him long term and you want to try to win the game. So I know I've said before where I'm kind of a throwback to where if a guy's got a no-hitter, I'm going to let him roll, but I think it's important to kind of keep him right there."

Cease was able to no-hit the Yankees into the seventh despite tying a season-high with five walks. He threw 60 pitches for strikes and first-pitch strikes to 15 of 25 hitters while averaging 95.7 mph on his 40 four-seam fastballs and 88 mph on his 36 sliders.

"The walks were weird," Schneider said. "There were some close misses. Also I think there's a couple of four-pitch walks in there, but stuff was really good. Stuff was consistent throughout and he used all of his pitches."

Cease stranded a runner at third in the first and second innings by getting strikeouts against Luis García Jr. and Wells. He ended the fifth by getting José Caballero to line into a double play started by shortstop Ernie Clement.

"He's been doing it pretty much all year," Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said through a translator.

"It feels like it's happening every single time he steps on the mound," said Lukes, who hit the deciding homer. "The guy's unbelievable. It's special what he's doing this year."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Cease: "He's tough. When he's on his game, the secondary stuff's really good to go with a heater that you got to respect too."

Historical context

Cease was attempting to pitch his second career no-hitter and the second in Toronto history. He threw a no-hitter on July 25, 2024, at Washington for San Diego, which was the Padres' second no-hitter in team history.

Toronto's only no-hitter was thrown by Dave Stieb on Sept. 2, 1990, in Cleveland. New York has been no-hit eight times, the last a combined no-hitter by Houston's Cristian Javier, Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly on June 25, 2022, at Yankee Stadium.