Manoah overwhelms Yankees in debut, a 2-0 Blue Jays' win

NEW YORK (AP) — A poised and confident Alek Manoah dominated the Yankees with six innings of two-hit ball to win his major league debut, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York 2-0 on Thursday in a doubleheader opener.

Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back homers in the third inning off Domingo German (4-3), and Toronto improved to 6-3 against the Yankees this season by winning the makeup of Wednesday night’s rainout.

A 23-year-old right-hander selected 11th in the 2019 amateur draft, Manoah (1-0) was brought up after throwing only 35 professional innings in the minor leagues.

His mother Susana, wearing a white Blue Jays jersey with her son’s name and with her son’s name on the back, was part of a cheering section that stood out among the sparse crowd for the late-afternoon start and was visible crying when he faced AL batting champion DJ LeMahieu to start his big league career. She later blew her son kisses from the stands.

“I think everyone was hearing the Manoahs today,” the pitcher said with a chuckle.

Manoah became the the second Blue Jays starting pitcher to throw six scoreless innings in his debut after Mauro Gozzo in 2019.

“I just want to take it all in, and just really enjoy the moment,” Manoah said. “Obviously. there’s another outing in five days, so I got to get ready for that, but just for today, just want to hug my whole family and I think that’s what I’m going to enjoy the most ,is how many people came out to see me, called off (work) sick, made excuses whatever the case may be. They made sure to be here, so I think that’s what I’ll remember the most.”

Manoah, a burly 6-foot-2, 260 pounds, wore jersey No. 6, his Triple-A number, and a favorite of his because LeBron James wore it with the Miami Heat.

Manoah walked LaMahieu on four pitches...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Manoah-overwhelms-Yankees-in-debut-a-2-0-Blue-16208823.php