2021 Blue Jays: Manager Charlie Montoyo Earns 100th Career Victory

2021 Blue Jays: Charlie Montoyo"s Milestone Victory

This is Charlie Montoyo"s third season as a manager of an MLB team, also his third with the Toronto Blue Jays. On Thursday afternoon in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium, Charlie Montoyo earned his 100th career win as a manager. In his first two seasons as a manager, he won 99 ball games with Toronto, unfortunately, Covid-19 stopped the 100th win from happening in his second season. That milestone victory was finally within reach as Toronto took the field in New York, in Montoyo"s 223rd game as a manager.

2021 Blue Jays: Remembering Career Win 100

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2021 season with high expectations after acquiring George Springer and Marcus Semien during free agency. Coming off an impressive 2020 playoff birth, and a 2021 spring training schedule the Blue Jays took on the Yankees in game 1 of 162.

Toronto"s ace Hyun-Jin Ryu was his impressive self once again on Opening Day for the Blue Jays, pitching 5.1 innings allowing two runs, and striking out five in a no-decision. Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up a two-run home run to Gary Sanchez and the New York Yankees, Toronto would begin to mount their comeback.

Marcus Semien and the Blue Jays defense made some highlight-reel plays to keep the Yankees batters off the bases, allowing themselves the opportunity to answer and even the game up. Vladimir Guerrero. Jr would lead the way with a three-hit day however, 2020 Silver Slugger Teoscar Hernandez hit a 437-foot home run in the 6th inning to even the game up at 2-2.

The Blue Jays would call on right-handed pitcher Jordan Romano in the 9th inning, the 27-year old Markham, Ontario, Canada native would enter with the game tied. Jordan Romano worked a full inning versus the New York Yankees, he would issue two walks and struck out two batters, and worked himself out of a jam with runners on the corners. The Blue Jays defense again was stellar as Cavan Biggio at third base threw to home plate for the out to ensure the game remained tied and heading to extra innings.

Extra innings on opening day between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, why not. The Blue Jays would bat first as the away team and right fielder Randal Grichuk would collect the RBI that would eventually hold up as the game-winning run. That could"ve all changed as the Yankees grabbed the bats for the bottom of the 10th inning.

The Toronto would send Julian Merryweather to the mound to face Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gleyber Torres. The now 29-year old, right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather would make Blue Jays history as he struck out all three batters for the first time in team history on opening day, earning the save and helping manager Charlie Montoyo collect his 100th career victory as a Manager in MLB.

2021 Blue Jays: Battle in the Bronx Continues

The Toronto Blue Jays will look to continue their winning ways on Saturday afternoon in game 2 of 3 versus the New York Yankees. The Toronto Blue Jays hope for a similar outing from their pitching staff, which will allow the heavy-hitting Blue Jays lineup the chance to outscore the powerful New York Yankees. Game 3 of the opening series will be on Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

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Main image credit: Embed from Getty Images