The Toronto Blue Jays’ situation looked bleak. They were already 4.5 games back of a playoff spot and last in the competitive American League East division. After being blown out by the Philadelphia Phillies 10-1 last night, Toronto won 5-3 against a team with the best record in baseball, earning a split in a short two-game series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. helped get the Jays’ offence going, hitting a two-out RBI single to score George Springer, making it 1-0 Toronto.
Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits today as the first basemen is hitting .321/.387/.464 over his last seven games.
Bo Bichette broke out of an 0-12 hitless streak, hitting a single off Aaron Nola to put Toronto up 2-1 in the sixth. Toronto is hoping this is the start of Bichette’s turnaround, as the shortstop heading into the game, was ranked 158 out of 173 qualified batters for hitters this season.
Davis Schneider followed Bichette up with his own RBI single, extending the Jays lead to 3-1. It was a home series for Schneider, who grew up 35 minutes from Philadelphia.
Kevin Kiermaier added an insurance run in the sixth, hitting a single to push the lead to 4-1 Toronto.
Toronto avoided a potential injury to Kiermaier after the outfielder collided with Daulton Varsho on a routine flyball in the first inning.
Kiermaier, a four-time Gold Glove winner, also made a neat diving catch to rob Brandon Marsh of a hit in the second.
Another stellar defensive play by Toronto came from George Springer in the third. With the bases loaded by the Phillies, Springer dived to catch a foul ball, recording the first out in the third. While the Phillies scored a run on the sac fly, Jays SP Chris Bassitt was able to escape the inning, allowing one of his two runs in the game.
Bassitt went 6 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out six. Bassitt retired 12 Phillies in a row, before giving up a single to Brandon Marsh.
After Canadian Zach Pop relived Bassitt, Bryson Stott hit a flyball to score Brandon Marsh on a sac fly, cutting Toronto’s lead to 4-2 in the seventh.
Phillies SP Aaron Nola went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while striking out nine. Nola hasn’t given up four runs since his first start of the season against the Atlanta Braves.
Kiermaier came through for the Jays once again, hitting a blooper over the head of Phillies second basemen Kody Clemens to make it 5-2 Toronto. Kiermaier collected three hits in a game for the second time this season.
Things got dicey for the Jays in the ninth inning. Toronto closer Jordan Romano, allowed two runners on before giving up an RBI double to Stott, shortening the lead to 5-3 Jays. After getting Clemens to pop up, a familiar face approached the plate for the Phillies.
Former Blue Jay Whitt Merrifield stood in the way of a victory, but Romano got Merrifield to pop up to Guerrero Jr. in foul territory as Toronto secured the win.
Chris Bassitt and Toronto’s bullpen’s feat of only allowing three runs was impressive, considering Philadelphia had won 11 straight games at home and is second in MLB in OPS (.749).
Toronto has now tallied at least 10 hits in two of their last three games.
The Blue Jays have an off day tomorrow before beginning a three-game series at home on Friday against the rising Minnesota Twins (20-15), who’ve won their last 13 out of 15 games.
