Michael King bails out Aroldis Chapman, saves Yankees' win over Blue Jays

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Michael King escaped a bases-loaded, no-outs jam created by Aroldis Chapman to preserve the New York Yankees’ 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night after Luis Severino became the first pitcher to strike out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. three times.

Guerrero struck out four times in all for the first time in his career, a night after hitting three homers and going 4 for 4.

Handed a 3-0 lead, Chapman threw just four of 16 pitches for strikes. He walked the bottom three batters in Toronto’s order: Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal and pinch-hitter Matt Chapman.

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New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman, right, hands the ball to manager Aaron Boone as he leaves during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Thursday, April 14, 2022, in New York.  (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Yankees manager Aaron Boone removed Chapman in favor of King, a 26-year-old right-hander.

"It’s a tough call," Boone said of pulling Chapman. "I felt he could have gotten out of it."

In the first save opportunity of his big league career, King struck out George Springer on three pitches, throwing a fastball for a called third strike.

"A ton of adrenaline and then knowing you have to execute," King said.

With Guerrero in the on-deck circle, Bo Bichette took a called strike, then hit a soft liner to second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who threw to first to double off Chapman for the final out. The Yankees shut out Toronto for the second time in the four-game series.

"He was tremendous," Boone said. "Obviously coming up against the guys he was coming up there, to do what he did there with Springer