The Toronto Blue Jays opened their weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-1 victory Friday night at Rogers Centre, snapping a frustrating stretch with timely hitting and another outstanding performance from Dylan Cease.
Game Summary
Final: Blue Jays 3, Cardinals 1
Winning Pitcher: Jeff Hoffman
Save: Louis Varland (24)
Losing Pitcher: Gordon Graceffo
Turning Point
After being held in check for much of the night, Toronto broke through in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, Luis Urías came off the bench and lined a clutch two-run single to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead, providing all the offense the bullpen would need.
Standout Performers
Dylan Cease: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 7 K. He continued his dominant run, lowering his ERA after another quality start.
Luis Urías: Pinch-hit, two-run go-ahead single in the eighth.
Kazuma Okamoto: RBI double to tie the game in the sixth.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Sparked the tying rally with a leadoff double.
Key Takeaways
Toronto’s pitching once again gave the club a chance to win, and this time the offense delivered in the late innings. The victory improved morale for a team looking to finish the season on a positive note despite sitting outside the playoff picture.
Up Next
The Blue Jays continue the series this afternoon at Rogers Centre, with Kevin Gausman scheduled to face Cardinals top prospect Quinn Mathews, who is expected to make his MLB debut.
