It was a lot more difficult than it needed to be, but the Blue Jays used their prolific offence to overcome a sloppy night on the mound and pick up a much-needed victory in Cincinnati.
George Springer homered twice while Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho added one apiece as the Jays outlasted the Reds with a 12-9 victory Tuesday. Catcher Alejandro Kirk also had a big night at the plate, finishing with two hits, including a three-run double in the first, and a walk.
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Here’s everything you need to know about the latest win:
Springer dingers
The Jays caught a huge break Tuesday morning when the Reds announced left-hander Nick Lodolo was scratched because of flu-like symptoms. Instead of facing a starter with a 3.22 ERA, the Jays got a bullpen game and it didn’t take long for them to take advantage. Springer led off the first with a solo homer to deep left-centre field, his franchise-record 23rd leadoff home run as a Jay, surpassing Devon White. It was also the 61st leadoff homer of Springer’s career as he moved within 20 of Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson for the all-time lead.
Springer wasn’t done there. In the fourth, after the Reds narrowed the lead to 8-6, Springer hit a two-run shot off reliever Brent Suter for his 26th home run of the season, which is his most since 2019. The 35-year-old went 3-for-4 with a walk to up his average to .305. Springer has never finished a season with an average above .292.
Bad look for BerrÃos
The Jays handed BerrÃos a 4-0 lead in the first and an 8-1 lead in the second, and he failed to shut down the Reds either time. Pitching for the first time since Aug. 23, the 31-year-old experienced an uptick in velocity but his pitches were all over the place. He allowed an RBI single to Elly De La Cruz in the first, an RBI double to Matt McLain in the second and then a three-run homer to Austin Hays.
BerrÃos surrendered six runs, although just two were earned because of an error by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, on five hits and a pair of walks in two innings.
Eric Lauer entered out of the bullpen and wasn’t sharp either, allowing two runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Hanging on
TJ Friedl hit a solo homer off Seranthony Dominguez in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Jays lead to two, but that was as close as the Reds would get.
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