When the Yankees put their team together in the offseason and then revamped the bullpen at the trade deadline, this is probably the kind of performance they had in mind.
The biggest play of their 3-1 win over first-place Toronto came from Cody Bellinger, whose throw home nailed Bo Bichette at the plate on Nathan Lukes’ single to right field to prevent the tying run from scoring in the top of the sixth Saturday.
And then the bullpen, which has been a mess for much of the year, delivered three scoreless innings — with Fernando Cruz and David Bednar getting the final seven outs, as the Yankees got back to within three games of Toronto in the AL East.
5Austin Wells tags out Bo Bichette during the Yankees’ Sept. 6 win.Bill Kostroun for the NY Post
They also got six strong innings from Luis Gil, who walked four batters, but allowed just one run as he continued his strong run of starts.
Mixed in with a 1:46 rain delay following the top of the sixth, the Yankees finally figured out how to beat a Blue Jays team that had won four straight games, as well as seven of its last eight against the Yankees.
“I feel at this point, every win is pretty big,’’ Bellinger said.
5Austin Wells hits a sacrifice fly during the Yankees’ Sept. 6 win against the Blue Jays.Bill Kostroun for the NY Post
5David Bednar reacts after closing out the Yankees’ Sept. 6 win over the Blue Jays.Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Especially when it comes against competition like the Blue Jays.
The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the second with some help from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose bat has hurt the Yankees and most of the rest of the league of late.
After Bellinger led off the inning with a walk against Chris Bassitt, Guerrero Jr. couldn’t handle Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s grounder to first.
5Luke Weaver throws a pitch during the Yankees’ Sept. 6 win.Robert Sabo for the NY Post
The ball bounced into short right, putting runners on first and third with no one out.
Jasson Domínguez, in the lineup due to being 6-for-9 with three extra-base hits against Bassitt, delivered a run-scoring single to center for the first run.
The Yankees added a run on Austin Wells’ sacrifice fly to right that would have done more damage had Addison Barger not made a terrific diving catch.
Gil mostly cruised, but walked four, including two straight to open the fourth.
But the right-hander got out of the inning allowing just a run.
The Yankees preserved the slim lead in the top of the sixth, with Bellinger involved again, as he charged Lukes’ single and made a perfect throw to the plate, where Wells applied the tag to get Bichette and end the inning.
“That was a great play,’’ Boone said. “Off the bat, I didn’t even think of having a play there.”
5The grounds crew rolls the tarp onto the field at Yankee Stadium.Robert Sabo for the NY Post
The rain delay that followed immediately knocked Bassitt out of the game after just 80 pitches and the Yankees took advantage quickly.
Domínguez drew a one-out walk off Louis Varland and the slumping Anthony Volpe — booed after whiffing in the second inning — hammered a double to right-center.
Another sacrifice fly by Wells made it 3-1.
And Luke Weaver, Cruz and Bednar took care of the rest.
The Yankees still believe their relief corps will live up to expectations.
Cruz and Boone pointed to getting all of the relievers comfortable in their roles.
“That’s really hard to do,’’ Cruz said. “As soon as we flip the switch that we need to go, it’s gonna be scary. … I don’t think there’s a bullpen better than us. If you put the names together, it’s impossible. We just need to come together and identify who needs to pitch [and] when and it’s over. It’s gonna be a short game.”
For that to happen, the Yankees have to straighten out Devin Williams and Camilo Doval, but Bednar is solidifying his role at the end of the game and the Yankees seem ready to take their chances.
“After the deadline, we’re settling in more now,’’ Bednar said. “The group we have down there is really special. They’re really talented guys.”
