NEW YORK (AP) — Trey Yesavage outpitched Cam Schlittler in a marquee matchup between young aces, and the Toronto Blue Jays edged the New York Yankees 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Following a rain delay that lasted more than two hours, the right-handers traded zeros until the seventh inning — when Toronto loaded the bases with nobody out on an infield single, a walk and a bunt single.
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New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon attempts to throw out Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement at first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) walks to dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Yohendrick Piñango, right, center fielder Daulton Varsho, center, and right fielder Myles Straw celebrate after winning a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Andrés Giménez then fouled off seven pitches, five with two strikes, before drawing an 11-pitch walk that scored Ernie Clement and chased Schlittler. One out later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lofted a sacrifice fly against Jake Bird to make it 2-0.
Yesavage (2-1) allowed just two hits and walked none while striking out eight over six shutout innings. The 22-year-old rookie has a 1.07 ERA in five starts after missing the first month this season due to a right shoulder impingement.
Three of his strikeouts came against three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who fanned all four times up.
Mason Fluharty, Jeff Hoffman and Tyler Rogers combined for six outs before the Yankees threatened against Louis Varland in the ninth. He gave up two hits and Paul Goldschmidt’s run-scoring comebacker before striking out Amed Rosario with a 99 mph fastball to earn his sixth save.
The 25-year-old Schlittler (6-2) permitted eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts as his major league-leading ERA rose to 1.50.
It was the first time Yesavage and Schlittler have squared off after both authored dominant performances as rookies in the postseason last year.
Schlittler struck out 12 over eight innings in a 4-0 win against rival Boston in the decisive game of their AL Wild Card Series to advance New York to the Division Series versus Toronto, where Yesavage tossed 5 1/3 hitless innings with 11 strikeouts in a Game 2 victory over the Yankees.
The start Wednesday night was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 11 minutes.
Blue Jays right fielder Jesús Sánchez was shaken up in the seventh after diving for Goldschmidt's bloop single. Sánchez left the game but simply had the wind knocked out of him and is day-to-day, manager John Schneider said.
LHP Carlos Rodón (0-1, 5.63 ERA) pitches for the Yankees in Thursday’s series finale. The Blue Jays hadn't announced a scheduled starter, though RHP Spencer Miles (1-0, 2.55) is expected to pitch bulk innings in some capacity.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon attempts to throw out Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement at first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) walks to dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Yohendrick Piñango, right, center fielder Daulton Varsho, center, and right fielder Myles Straw celebrate after winning a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Abby Roque scored twice, Ann-Renée Desbiens made 23 saves and the Montreal Victoire won their first PWHL title, beating the Ottawa Charge 4-0 on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals.
Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom also scored. Montreal opened the best-of-five series at home with two overtime victories, then fell 2-1 at Ottawa on Monday night. Home teams had won the last five finals games.
"Just so much love for this group,” Roque said. “I mean the things we have battled through these playoffs, it was just out of this world the amount of heart on this team. I love everybody and I couldn’t be prouder.”
The Minnesota Frost won the first two titles in league history, beating Ottawa in four games last year in the championship series. Montreal beat Minnesota in the semifinals this season.
“Congratulations to the Montreal Victoire, the 2026 PWHL Walter Cup champions!” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media. “An incredible and historic season — the Cup comes home for the first time.”
Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin was honored as the playoff MVP. She tied for the postseason lead with eight points on two goals and six assists.
“After the CWHL closed its doors there were two years where we didn’t really know what was going to happen,” Poulin said. “There was a group of women who came together to put this league together. Three years later it all comes together to win the Walter Cup. It feels good. it feels really good.”
Roque opened the scoring at 3:49 of the second period on a deflection off Ottawa defender Rory Guilday's stick. On a break with Poulin, Roque went deep into the right corner and swept the puck to the middle, where it glanced off Guilday's stick and past goalie Gwyneth Philips.
Roque scored short-handed at 9:58 of the third, cutting across the crease on a break and beating Philips with a backhander.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting for this playoffs for a long time,” Roque said. “I love playoff hockey. I love meaningful hockey when it’s physical and it’s tough and there’s not a lot of room to do much out there. Like, that’s where it’s fun to me.”
Poulin was off for interference when Roque scored. Montreal also killed a penalty in each of the first two periods, while Ottawa was penalty-free.
Flaherty made it 3-0 with 6:06 remaining. She put a shot from the blue line through traffic into the top right corner. Ljungblom capped the scoring off a turnover with 4:16 left.
AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) raises the PWHL Walter Cup after the team's win against the Ottawa Charge, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) CORRECTION: name of photographer Justin Tang
Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) raises the PWHL Walter Cup after the team's win against the Ottawa Charge, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) raises the PWHL Walter Cup after defeating the Ottawa Charge in Ottawa, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire players celebrate after defeating the Ottawa Charge to win the PWHL Walter Cup final in Ottawa, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (left) and goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens celebrate after defeating the Ottawa Charge in game 4 PWHL Walter Cup hockey final in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire players celebrate after defeating the Ottawa Charge to win the PWHL Walter Cup hockey final in Ottawa, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire players celebrate after defeating the Ottawa Charge to win the PWHL Walter Cup hockey final in Ottawa, Wednesday May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Charge's Jocelyne Larocque (3) falls in the crease of Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens (35) after chasing the puck during the second period of game 4 PWHL Walter Cup final hockey game in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire forward Catherine Dubois (28) shoots on Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips (33) during the second period of game 4 PWHL Walter Cup final hockey game in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire forward Abby Roque (right) celebrates her goal with forward Marie-Philip Poulin (29) during the second period of game 4 PWHL Walter Cup final hockey game in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire forward Abby Roque (11) scores on Ottawa Charge goalie Gwyneth Philips (33) as forward Brianne Jenner (19) defends during the third period of game 4 PWHL Walter Cup final hockey game in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Victoire forward Abby Roque (11) celebrates her goal against the Ottawa Charge with teammates during the third period of game 4 PWHL Walter Cup final hockey game in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
