Blue Jays, Yankees Tie AL East Lead After Varsho Grand Slam

Daulton Varsho delivered a pivotal grand slam in the sixth inning, propelling the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox and moving them closer to clinching the American League East title. This win kept the Blue Jays tied with the New York Yankees atop the division, reducing their magic number to three, meaning any combination of Toronto wins and New York losses totaling three will secure the division for Toronto, granting them a bye to the AL Division Series and home-field advantage. The grand slam broke a scoreless deadlock, igniting a rally that showcased the Blue Jays' offensive resurgence after a period of struggle, and was complemented by a strong bullpen performance that nearly achieved a perfect game through six innings. Varsho acknowledged the pressure at the season's end but emphasized the team's confidence in their performance and resilience, stating they had "house money" and would keep playing their established style. Despite a recent rough stretch losing six of eight games, the Blue Jays have maintained their competitiveness and belief in their ability to win the division. Key contributions also came from George Springer, who hit a two-run homer in the same inning as Varsho's grand slam, highlighting the team's offensive depth.