Belt hits 3-run homer as Blue Jays close in on playoffs with shutout of Yankees

Brandon Belt smashed a three-run home run as the Blue Jays topped the visiting New York Yankees 6-0 on Thursday as Toronto took a step toward clinching a post-season berth.

The win gave the Blue Jays a one-game lead over the Houston Astros in the race for the American League's second wild card.

It also gave Toronto a two-game lead over the Seattle Mariners, who hosted the Texas Rangers later Thursday.

Belt hears you. <br><br>WE hear you. <a href="https://t.co/PlE4YPjnbI">pic.twitter.com/PlE4YPjnbI</a>

Daulton Varsho and Matt Chapman both had home runs as Toronto (88-71) shook off a two-game scoring drought. Cavan Biggio added an RBI single.

Chris Bassitt (16-8) pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out 12. The quality start gave him 200 innings on the season and a career high 16 wins. Relievers Yimi Garcia and Tim Mayza preserved the victory.

Biggio and Alejandro Kirk had back-to-back singles in the second inning for the Blue Jays. It was the first time Toronto had consecutive hits since the ninth inning of Sunday's 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Although the Blue Jays couldn't capitalize on Biggio and Kirk's hits, they finally broke their 20-inning scoring drought when Varsho led off the third with a home run. His 19th of the season came on an 89 m.p.h. cutter from Weaver, flying 380 feet to deep right field.

ON THE BOARD! <a href="https://twitter.com/DaultonVarsho25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaultonVarsho25</a> <a href="https://t.co/jJfQ4j3a3c">pic.twitter.com/jJfQ4j3a3c</a>

Bassitt protected Toronto's narrow lead in the fourth, inducing a flyout by Austin Wells, then striking out Giancarlo Stanton and Oswaldo Cabrera. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said before the game that he was glad that it was Bassitt's turn