In a season that many would say has been disappointing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Ernie Clement gave Jays’ fans something to celebrate, with a walk off single in their first of three against the Texas Rangers.
The Blue Jays sent Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.54) to face Andrew Heaney (4-10, 3.60) for the Rangers. Kikuchi threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out five. Heaney threw 5 innings, allowing four runs over seven hits, walking one and striking out four. Both pitchers were given no decisions.
The Rangers got on the board first, scoring after an Adolis Garcia RBI single in the top of the 1st.
The Blue Jays, however, struck right back. Spencer Horwitz doubled and drove in two to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Ernie Clement then followed up with an RBI double of his own, extending their lead to 3-1.
Texas tied the game in the top of the 3rd. Threatening with two on and two out, Jonah Heim stepped up and drove in two runs with a single to tie the game at three.
Leo Jimenez gave Toronto the lead once again, making it 4-3 with an RBI single in the bottom of the 4th.
It looked like the lead would hold for the Blue Jays, but the Rangers stomped back in the top of the 5th. Garcia struck again as he hit a two run homer into right field to give Texas a 5-4 lead.
Yusei Kikuchi would then get pulled from the game after getting the second out of the inning. As he headed to the dugout, he saluted the Toronto crowd and received a standing ovation from the fans in what may have been his final start as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Back to the scoring, the Blue Jays wouldn’t go away quietly. They tied the game at five in the bottom of the 7th, scoring on a Danny Jansen sacrifice fly.
The Blue Jays would threaten in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded and two out, Clement would then single to drive in the game winning run and give Toronto a 6-5 walk off win over Texas. The walk off was the first of Clement’s career.
Kevin Gausman (8-8, 4.55) and Michael Lorenzen (5-5, 3.53) will face off as the Blue Jays look to take the series against the Rangers, tomorrow afternoon.
