Great pitching and a couple of runs powered the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, as the Jays now sit two games back out of a playoff spot.
Toronto came into the game 3.0 games back of the 3rd Wild Card spot in the American League. With the Minnesota Twins losing 5-4 against the Colorado Rockies and Toronto’s win, the number has now dropped to 2 games.
Daulton Varsho collected the first hit for the Jays, playing in his home ballpark, as the outfielder grew up in Wisconsin and played baseball at University not too far from American Family Field. George Springer would single, driving in Varsho to give the Jays an early 1-0 lead in the second.
Spencer Horwitz dunked in a single to give Toronto a 2-0 lead. Horwitz has reached base in every game he’s started so far (4 total), and he looks to continue to be the lead-off hitter for the Jays, as Davis Schneider is batting 0.48 in his last 7 games.
The two runs came off Brewers SP Carlos Rodriguez, who was making in first Major League Start tonight, coming off a stretch of 42 innings pitched, with a 2.86 ERA over that span for Triple-A Nashville.
Milwaukee needed their starter’s to go more deep into games, as their bullpen has pitched the most innings in MLB this season (271.2 innings). However, Rodriguez only managed to go 3.2 innings, giving up two earned runs and seven hits.
Danny Jansen would come in with a much-needed insurance run in the ninth, hitting a double to put Toronto up three.
Toronto certainly had more chances to drive in runs, leaving the bases loaded in the third inning and stranding another two baserunners in the fourth. In total, 13 runners reached base for Toronto, and only three were able to score. Canada’s lone baseball team ranks 23rd in MLB for hitting with runners in scoring position, batting .237 on the year.
On the pitching side for Toronto, Yusei Kikuchi may have made his best start of the season last time out against the Baltimore Orioles, going six innings and allowing a single run. Kikuchi would allow no run in five innings, striking out five batters, but allowed a season-high four walks.
Between Nate Pearson, Chad Green, Trevor Richards, and Yimi Garcia. Toronto’s bullpen went 4 innings and allowed zero runs.
Although, the Brewers nearly mounted a comeback in the top of the eighth inning, as they had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs, but Garcia came into the game and was able to strike out Blake Perkins.
In injury-related news, Kevin Kiermaier was removed at the bottom of the seventh inning with a right knee contusion after the OF fouled a ball off his knee while batting the inning before.
Meanwhile, the Jays rotation may be getting some help soon, as Yariel Rodriguez went four innings in Triple-A today for a rehab outing, allowing zero runs and striking out 10. Rodriguez could start the bullpen game on Saturday or be continued to stretch out in the minors.
Tomorrow’s series finale has Toronto send SP Chris Bassitt (6-6, 3.81) to face Brewers SP Tobias Myers (2-2, 4.15). Milwaukee hasn’t lost a series at home since losing 2 out of 3 games to the New York Yankees in late April.
