Within four innings, the Toronto Blue Jays lost two hitters due to injuries and were already trailing 2-0, yet the ballclub found a way to win without the two key players and beat the San Francisco Giants 10-6.
The first injury came after Daulton Varsho hit weak ground on the infield grass, trying to hustle for a hit when he dove and fell hard onto the ground. According to the Blue Jays, Varsho was removed with a left knee contusion.
Two innings later, Bo Bichette was replaced by Leo Jimenez on defence, with no reason given. Later, the Blue Jays said Bichette came out of the game due to right calf soreness, which is the same reason Bichette was injured last earlier this year.
Luckily, Toronto’s bad luck would be met with some positives in the fifth inning. Ernie Clement, who hit a three-run homer in last night’s game, got Toronto on the board first yet again, and you guessed it, Clement hit another home run that scored three, putting the Jays up 3-2.
Clement collected three hits on the night, driving in four runs, and is now 5-13 in his last three games.
After giving up three earned runs in the fifth, Giants SP Logan Webb would have a bad start to the sixth innings, allowing four straight hits in the process, as two more runs scored.
Justin Turner’s single brought home Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and then Davis Schneider would cash in Turner on a single. Webb would be taken out of after Schneider’s hit, allowing seven earned runs in 5.0 innings pitch. Webb matched a career-high in earned runs allowed (7), which was also the most earned runs he’s given up this year.
The hitting parade wouldn’t stop there for Toronto, as Clement drove in two with a single, followed by George Springer driving in two more runs, as Toronto was now up 9-3 just like that.
All the run support gave Jays SP Chris Bassitt the win, as the RHP went 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. Michael Conforto was a pesky hitter for Bassitt tonight, driving in two runs of the Jays pitcher.
Bassitt has now gone at least 5.0 innings in 13 consecutive starts dating back to May 1st against the Kansas City Royals.
After both Toronto and San Francisco scored one more run, Toronto had a reasonable 10-3 lead heading into the ninth inning, but once again, the Jays bullpen had some trouble in the later inning.
Bowden Francis came in and surrendered three straight home runs to Heliot Ramos, Patrick Bailey, and Matt Chapman.
Francis was able to pitch around the home runs, getting the final two outs to secure the victory.
It goes to show that Toronto can’t rely on the bullpen to shut out any opponents and that scoring ensuring runs is needed to have any hope of winning games.
Toronto’s bullpen ERA is now at 4.86, 2nd worst in MLB, and is 0.30 ERA away from 28th in bullpen in the league, the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels.
Toronto looks to win back-to-back series tomorrow afternoon for the first time since early June when they beat the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates in two straight series.
