The Toronto Blue Jays took on the Cleveland Guardians in the rubber match of their three game series, and on Sunday, the offences didn’t disappoint. Both squads combined to score 13 runs on 24 hits.
The Blue Jays sent Jose Berrios (5-5, 2.93) to face Ben Lively (6-2, 2.59) for the Guardians. Neither starter was sharp, Berrios lasted 6 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and striking out one while picking up his sixth victory of the year. Lively threw just 4 innings, also giving up four runs, while giving up six hits, walking three and punching out four, taking his third loss.
The Blue Jays got the scoring started pretty early. Ernie Clement took Lively deep in the bottom of the 2nd to give Toronto a 2-0 lead.
The Guardians got those runs back in the top of the 5th. A Steven Kwan RBI single cut the lead in half, then a Tyler Freeman RBI groundout tied the game at two runs apiece.
However, the Jays would erupt in the bottom half of the 5th. The Blue Jays would threaten with the bases loaded and nobody out, setting the stage for Daulton Varsho. Varsho would unload, hitting his third career grand slam to give the Blue Jays a 6-2 lead. An RBI single by Addison Barger would tack on another run, extending Toronto’s lead to 7-2.
The Guardians would get a couple runs back in the top of the 6th. Rookie David Schneemann hit his first career home run, a two run shot off of Berrios to cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 7-4.
The score would stay the same, but in the top of the 9th, Cleveland wouldn’t go away quietly. Bryan Rocchio hit a two run shot, making it a one run game. The Guardians would also get the tying and go ahead runs on base, but the Blue Jays would hold onto the lead to secure the 7-6 win and the series, taking two out of three games against the AL Central leading Guardians.
Toronto will start another three game series at home, but this time, against the Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays will send Yusei Kikuchi (4-5, 3.26) to face off against Canadian Nick Pivetta (3-4, 3.88) for the Red Sox as they play game one tomorrow night.
