Former St. John’s baseball star Joe Panik hit his first home run of the season at Yankee Stadium.
After two games of its series with the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays probably wish there was a ‘Do-Over’ button somewhere.
The Jays have been outscored 33-8 over the first two games of the three game series, both came as losses, as Toronto tried to keep the Yankees behind them in the American League East standings.
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Getting healthier by the day, the Yankees are forming into the powerhouse many experts envisioned at the start of this shortened 2020 MLB season in July, but all is not lost for Toronto, who will try and salvage the series on Thursday night in the Bronx.
Joe Panik, who played his college baseball over in Queens at St. John’s, has been a lone bright spot for the Blue Jays in its blowout losses as he knocked in an RBI in the 9th inning with a double on Tuesday night to make the score 20-4 and later came around to score on a fielders choice by __ Fisher.
Panik went 1-for-3 in the 20-6 loss with that one RBI and a walk but Wednesday night is the memory the former Johnnie will never forget.
In yet another already decided outcome, Panik stepped to the plate in the 9th inning and sent a fastball 412 feet well over the short-porch in right field and into the second deck for a solo home run, which cut the Yankees lead to 13-2, which was also the final score.
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Despite making another stop in Queens playing for the New York Mets last season, Panik grew up a Yankees fan and the home run, which was his first with the Blue Jays will be something he never forgets.
Born and raised in New York, @JoePanik's 1st #BlueJays home run came in his hometown! 💪 pic.twitter.com/IwIyGDJ8tk
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 17, 2020
Joe Paink even got a shoutout from Yankees back-up play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco, a fellow New Yorker and Fordham graduate.
A Yankee Stadium HR for my guy @JoePanik!!! I know how much that meant to him growing up a die hard Yankee fan. So cool to see. Gave me chills!
— Ryan Ruocco (@RyanRuocco) September 17, 2020
The former Red Storm star is still riding his hot streak in the month of September, hitting .343 with seven RBI, eight walks, and four extra base hits but the Blue Jays continue to fall in the standings, a game and a half behind the Yankees for second place in the American League East and four and a half games behind the first place Tampa Bay Rays.
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However, the Blue Jays do hold one of the two Wild Card spots in the American League and are currently the No. 7 seed.
Joe Panik is starting, batting eighth, and playing second base in the series finale on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm EST from the Bronx.