TORONTO — On a day when Anthony Volpe’s red-hot bat cooled off, he let his glove take the spotlight.
The Yankees shortstop made a spectacular play to end a 6-4 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday, ranging up the middle to make a sliding stop on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s hard ground ball and firing to first for the final out of the game.
“He’s a Gold Glover for a reason,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “That was a hard-hit ball. Going to his left to make that kind of play, it was a really good play.”
The Blue Jays had a runner on second at the time, which would have scored to make it a one-run game if Volpe had not made the highlight-reel play.
“That was impressive,” said Aaron Judge, who had a good view from center field. “Right when he hit it, I’m thinking it’s probably coming to me, just get the ball in. He makes an incredible snag. I gotta stop doubting him with those plays. He’s been doing it all last year and to start this year. It was a pretty impressive way to end the game right there.”
Volpe went 0-for-5 at the plate Wednesday a day after going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
But he found a way to impact the game anyway.
“What a play,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I mean, he is special out there.”
Gerrit Cole is making progress, but he still has a ways to go before he is close to returning to the Yankees.
The reigning AL Cy Young winner threw from 75 feet for a second straight day Wednesday, his first time throwing on back-to-back days since being shut down with elbow nerve inflammation and edema in the middle of March.
“I think he’s hoping to get in four [throwing sessions] this week and then hopefully build from there,” Boone said.
Cole, not eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until May 27, still has more benchmarks to hit before he can get on a mound.
“I know he’d have to still go through his catch play all next week where hopefully he gets five days in or four or five days and further distance,” Boone said. “Then you start graduating to the mound.”
Tommy Kahnle, who had backed off his throwing progression in late March, threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Tampa. He has one or two more to go before he advances to facing hitters in live batting practice.
Austin Wells, who went 39-for-40 in stolen bases in the minor leagues, is now 1-for-1 in the big leagues.
The catcher stole second base in the second inning Wednesday with two outs and Volpe at the plate.