Brandon Belt hit a three-run home run, right-hander Chris Bassitt pitched into the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting New York Yankees 6-0 on Thursday night.

Bassitt (16-8) allowed five hits and one walk (intentional) while striking out 12 in 7 2/3 innings. After retiring the first two batters of the eighth, he was replaced when he reached 200 innings pitched on the season for the first time in his career. Yimi Garcia finished the inning.

Daulton Varsho and Matt Chapman added solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who salvaged the finale of a three-game series.

The Yankees (81-78) had shut out the Blue Jays (88-71) in the first two games of the series.

The Blue Jays currently occupy the second American League wild-card spot as they play a six-game homestand to complete the regular season. They meet the Tampa Bay Rays in the final three games.

Toronto holds a one-game lead on the Houston Astros (87-72), who in turn are one game up on the Seattle Mariners (86-73) in the chase for the final AL playoff berth.

The Yankees, who are eliminated from postseason contention, won the season series between the teams 7-6.

Yankees right-hander Luke Weaver (3-6) allowed two runs, six hits and one walk while striking out six in four innings.

The Blue Jays scored for the first time in the series when Varsho led off the bottom of the third with his 19th home run of the season on a shot to right-center. The Blue Jays went on to leave the bases loaded in the inning.

Chapman sliced his 16th homer of the season down the right-field line with one out in the bottom of the fourth.

Toronto added one run in the fifth against Yankees reliever Greg Weissert. Bo Bichette singled with two outs, stole second and scored on Cavan Biggio's single.

Toronto increased the lead to 6-0 against Zach McAllister in the bottom of the sixth inning. Varsho walked with one out, George Springer singled and Belt hit his 17th home run of the season on a blast to right.

Yankees reliever Yoendrys Gomez made his major league debut with a clean bottom of the seventh that included a strikeout. He pitched around a single and a hit batter with three strikeouts in the eighth.

--Field Level Media