NEW YORK -- Especially as they grind through this gauntlet of a dozen straight games against winning clubs, the Yankees know every contest matters, each day another chance to firm up their October position.

This one, as Aaron Boone admitted Sunday, felt a little bigger.

Ben Rice cracked an early three-run homer, Max Fried steadied himself over seven innings and Cody Bellinger banged a go-ahead double, setting up a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

Devin Williams worked around a hit and walk in the eighth before David Bednar locked down his second save in as many days. With 19 games remaining, the Yankees have trimmed their American League East deficit to two games .

“We’re playing the team that we’re looking up at in the standings, and we’re p

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