By Canadian Press

Torres, Yankees beat Blue Jays 8-7, pack up for London

Jun 26, 2019 | 2:25 PM

NEW YORK — Gleyber Torres lined a game-winning single in the ninth inning and the New York Yankees hit two more big flies before jetting off to see Big Ben and the London sights, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 Wednesday.

Didi Gregorius and DJ LeMahieu connected as the Yankees extended their major league record to 29 straight games with a home run. The AL East leaders overcame two homers and a double by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., plus an early 5-0 deficit, to finish a power-packed 9-1 homestand.

Now, they’ll head straight from Yankee Stadium to England, where they’ll enjoy two days off before playing the Boston Red Sox on Saturday and Sunday at London Stadium in the first major league games in Europe.

Manager Aaron Boone was among several Yankees set for “the flight across the pond” to see the British capital for the first time. He said his family is already overseas and had sent him pictures of a red phone booth, a popular bridge and Heathrow Airport.

This was New York’s final home game until after the All-Star break, on July 12 against the Blue Jays. During a break before the bottom of the eighth, the stadium sound system blared “London Calling” by The Clash.

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Zack Britton — pronounced “Britain,” in fact — wasn’t so great in giving up Cavan Biggio’s RBI single in the ninth that made it 7-all. But Britton (3-1) wound up with the win to close out a three-game sweep.

Gregorius got an infield hit off Nick Kingham (3-2) with one out in the ninth, Aaron Hicks walked and Torres followed with his hit.

LeMahieu stretched his streak to 10 games of getting a hit and scoring a run, the team’s longest such string since Johnny Damon’s 10-gamer in 2009.

Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo drive in the fifth for a 6-5 lead. Danny Jansen also connected for the Blue Jays.

Gregorius homered off Trent Thornton and Aaron Judge had three hits.

TROPHY TIME

The Champions League trophy — albeit, a replica — was on the field to promote a July 24 friendly between champions Liverpool and Sporting CP at Yankee Stadium. Former Liverpool captain John Barnes posed with the trophy, as did Tommy Kahnle, Austin Romine and Kyle Higashioka of the Yankees.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: 3B Brandon Drury banged his knee trying to make a sliding catch on a foul ball in the seventh. He was checked and stayed in.

Yankees: Slugger Giancarlo Stanton didn’t play, a day after bruising his left knee on a headfirst slide. Manager Aaron Boone said the team would check how he’s healing before deciding on whether he plays in London.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: After a day off, Toronto opens a four-game series at home against Kansas City. Manager Charlie Montoyo was still putting together his pitching plan for the opener.

Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 3.21 ERA) will pitch the opener of the London series on Saturday. Boone said the Yankees will use a combination of relievers on Sunday.

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Ben Walker, The Associated Press