David Price, Troy Tulowitzki help Blue Jays rout Yankees

NEW YORK – David Price and Troy Tulowitzki show up, and suddenly the Toronto Blue Jays start pulling off all sorts of fantastic feats.

Like hitting a grand slam at Yankee Stadium, for once.

Price pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and Justin Smoak hit Toronto's first-ever slam in the Bronx as the Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 6-0 Saturday for their seventh consecutive win.

"I sense something different," Toronto manager John Gibbons said.

Tulowitzki also homered as the Blue Jays closed within 2½ games of the AL East-leading Yankees.

With two wins already, the Blue Jays became the first team to win a series against the Yankees since early July. On Sunday, Toronto will try to sweep them in a series of at least three games for the first time since May 2003.

"Everybody's doing their part. Everybody's being their piece of the puzzle," Price said. "The future looks good for this team."

Price won for the second time in a row since Toronto acquired the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner from Detroit. The lefty gave up three singles and struck out seven.

"That's what we envisioned" with the trade, Gibbons said.

Price had gotten tagged in his last two starts vs. the Yankees to the tune of a 33.26 ERA. Wearing a different uniform, he looked much different.

He had taped a handwritten note above his locker: "If you don't like it, pitch better." The last two words underlined, three times each.

This was Toronto's first shutout at Yankee Stadium since 2007.