As Ichiro Suzuki goes, so go the New York Yankees.
A day after collecting seven hits and four steals in a doubleheader, Suzuki hit a home run and powered the Yankees to a win over the Blue Jays 10-7 on Thursday night.
"Having this momentum come at this point in the season, I think that's the Yankees," Suzuki told the Associated Press through a translator. "And I think that's what makes this team special."
Since being traded to the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners in July, Suzuki has hit .321 and added four RBIs, four steals, nine hits, three doubled and a home run against the Blue Jays in this three game series.
Outfielder Nick Swisher, who has been in a prolonged slump all month, busted out big with a grand slam in the fourth inning to put the Yankees up 8-2.
"Every time he comes up, the crowd gets electric," Swisher said of Suzuki.
"You could say that I'm surprised, but maybe when I was with the Mariners in right field, I did try and communicate with those fans in right field, maybe make some friends," Suzuki said.
The win gave the Yankees five in a row for the first time since the end of June. The team had a 10-game lead in the division after the All-Star break, but had been slumping through the latter part of the season. The team has won seven of the last eight games and will next play the Oakland Athletics at home.
The team took a one-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East, who had an off day on Thursday.
"When we go on these rolls a little bit, it just kind of feels like everyone just mellows out. It's real quiet in here. It's real chill. It's not as hectic," Swisher said.
The Yankees were down 2-0 in the third when Suzuki unloaded on Toronto starter Aaron Laffey for a home run to right field. The next inning, New York added seven more runs and knocked Laffey out of the game for good.
Following an RBI double from Suzuki, Toronto loaded the bases on a walk to Jayson Nix. Derek Jeter added a single to score a run and keep the bases loaded, after which Swisher blasted his grand slam. It was his seventh career home run with the bases loaded and his third of the year.
"I feel that we're getting that inner confidence back that we lost there for a little bit," Swisher said. "Regardless of whatever the situation is, whatever team we're playing, we feel like we're going to go out there and get the job done."
Phil Hughes pitched excellent for the Yankees, winning his third start in a row and 16th game on the year. He allowed four runs on five hits in five innings and also had nine strikeouts.
Hughes tied a record in the fourth inning by striking out four batters, including JP Arencibia, Adeiny Hechavarria, Anthony Gose and Brett Lawrie. Hechavarria struck out but was able to reach base on a passed ball by Russel Martin.
"Changeup command came and went. Fastball was kind of all over the place," Hughes said. "It was a nice night to get a lot of runs because I definitely needed it."
Toronto made the game interesting the eighth by scoring three runs off of relievers Cory Wade and Joba Chamberlain, but it was too little too late. David Robertson came into the game in the ninth inning and got his second save of the year.
Derek Jeter added another two hits to bring his MLB-leading total to 202. Suzuki had three RBIs and also scored two runs in the game.
"That's a deep lineup and they're explosive, as you saw tonight," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said.
Kelly Johnson hit a solo home run in the eight for Toronto, who clinched their second straight losing season with the loss.
"It's just one of those days that's pretty disappointing," Laffey said.
Suzuki and the Yankees will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Oakland Athletics at the stadium on Friday.
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