Blue Jays take series over Mets with 7-3 win
It was a New York, New York winning homestand for the Toronto Blue Jays. Already with a 2-1 series victory over the Yankees to begin the week, the Blue Jays scored another series win over the Mets thanks to a 7-3 victory on Sunday afternoon from Sahlen Field. Toronto is
It was a New York, New York winning homestand for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Already with a 2-1 series victory over the Yankees to begin the week, the Blue Jays scored another series win over the Mets thanks to a 7-3 victory on Sunday afternoon from Sahlen Field.
Toronto is now back to six-games over the .500-mark at 26-20 and 12-7 in 19 games at Sahlen Field.
As has been the recipe in Blue Jays’ wins in Buffalo a number of times this year, a big-inning propelled Toronto over New York on Sunday. The Blue Jays put up a five spot in the sixth inning, sending 10 men to the plate to break open a close 2-1 game.
It was the eye and not the bat that got Toronto going as Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Randal Grichuk and Lordes Gurriel Jr. drew three consecutive walks off reliever Brad Brach to begin the inning. The Mets went back to the bullpen but fared no better with Jared Hughes as the next batter, Jonathan Villar, also drew a walk for force Guerrero home for the 3-1 lead.
Santiago Espinal then broke the game open when he lined the first pitch of his at-bat down the left field line for a three-run double. As Villar raced home from third, the relay from Amed Rosario hit the speedster in the leg to allow Espinal to get to third. That forced the Mets to bring the infield in and Danny Jansen hit a soft liner over the second base bag to plate the fifth run of the inning.
The 🐐 clears 'em!
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 13, 2020
💪 @santdr13 💪 pic.twitter.com/8N3acQnKHC
While the five-run inning secured the lead, it was Gurriel Jr. who put the Blue Jays on top in a big way. The reigning American League player of the week hit a two-run home run onto Oak St. in the second inning for his seventh blast of the season.
Good Lourdes, this one left the park 😳
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) September 13, 2020
🍍 @yunitogurriel 🍍 pic.twitter.com/qxnzS8h8sM
Meanwhile on the mound, Hyun Jin Ryu gave the Blue Jays another ace start. The southpaw got stronger as the game went on, striking out the side around a pair of hits in the fourth inning and retiring the final eight batters he faced. In all, Ryu struck out seven in six innings of work to improve to 4-1 on the year.
Ryu did not issue a walk, which allowed him to avoid getting hurt too much from seven Mets’ singles and a double. New York did score in the first inning as Dominic Smith singled home Jeff McNeil with two outs. However, Smith rounded first base too far on the play and the Blue Jays were able to end the inning by tagging out Todd Frazier in the ensuing rundown.
The Mets scored a pair of runs in the eighth inning off the Blue Jays bullpen before Rafael Dolis nailed down the win with a scoreless ninth. The righty has not allowed an earned run in his last 14 appearances.
The Blue Jays have an off-day on Monday before a three-game series against the Yankees in New York. Toronto’s final homestand of the year at Sahlen Field begins September 21 against the Yanks.