Blue Jays comeback falls short in 8-7 spring training loss to Yankees

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge connects for a single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Hahn during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

DUNEDIN — New York first baseman Paul Goldschmidt homered and drove in four runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays came up short in their comeback bid in an 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action Tuesday.

Goldschmidt’s two-run homer off Tyler Rogers in the third put the Yankees up 4-1. He then increased the Yankees’ lead to 6-1 with a two-run double in the fifth.

Down 7-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Jays mounted a comeback.

Carlos Mendoza started a four-run inning with an RBI single. Charles McAdoo then drove in two with a double before coming around to score on a throwing error to cut the lead to 7-5.

Jace Avina put New York up by three with a homer in the eighth, then Jays centre-fielder Jake Casey hit a two-run homer with none out in the ninth to narrow the lead to 8-7.

Yankees reliever Carson Coleman settled down to retire the next three batters and pick up the save.

Yankees starter Will Warren allowed a run on four hits and struck out four over 2 2/3 innings to get the win.

Toronto starter Grant Rogers allowed two runs on four hits over two innings and took the loss.

New York improved to 3-2. Toronto fell to 1-3 and will face the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday in Lakeland, Fla.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2026.