Judge homers again amid side-eye controversy to help Yankees defeat Blue Jays

Aaron Judge hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the New York Yankees to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

The no-doubt blast off reliever Erik Swanson travelled an estimated 448 feet to straightaway centre field.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa also homered for the Yankees, who lost starter Domingo German to a fourth-inning ejection after an inspection of his throwing hand.

Kevin Kiermaier went deep for Toronto (24-18) and starter Kevin Gausman had 10 strikeouts over seven innings.

Ryan Weber (1-0) earned the victory and Wandy Peralta worked the ninth for his third save. New York (25-19) has won seven of its last nine games.

WATCH l Yankees' star Aaron Judge accused of stealing Blue Jays signs:

Tension was heightened at times during the game between American League East rivals.

The Blue Jays were in touch with Major League Baseball earlier in the day about the positioning of New York's base coaches in the opener of the four-game series.

Yankees third-base coach Luis Rojas had a lively discussion with the umpires early in Tuesday's game, apparently for not standing within the confines of the coaching box. Members of both dugouts shouted words at each other.

In the fourth inning, first-base umpire D.J. Reyburn was the first to look at German's hand as the pitcher came out of the dugout. Television replays appeared to show a dark substance on the side of the right-hander's pants.

Umpires will occasionally check a pitcher's hands and fingers during a game for foreign or sticky substances. It was the fourth ejection since MLB started cracking down on prohibited grip aids two years ago.

With New York up 2-0, Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton was pressed into service and loaded the bases with