Clement, Springer hits in 8th lift Blue Jays over Marlins 2-0
By The Associated Press on June 20, 2023.
MIAMI (AP) – Ernie Clement and George Springer hit consecutive RBI singles in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Miami Marlins 2-0 on Tuesday night. Yusei Kikuchi allowed two hits and struck out six in six innings to help Toronto even the series after falling 11-0 in the opener Monday night. The Blue Jays ended a 19-inning scoreless streak in the eighth against Tanner Scott (4-2). Miami’s Luis Arraez went 1-for-4, dropping his major league-leading batting average to .398. The Marlins had won five in a row. Santiago Espinal had a pinch one-out double and Clement followed with a pinch RBI single. Clement advanced on centre-fielder Garrett Hampson’s throw to the plate and raced home from second after Springer’s broken bat single to left. Yimi GarcÃa (2-3) was the winner, pitching the seventh. Erik Swanson gave up Nick Fortes’ one-out double and Joey Wendle’s infield single in the eighth, and Tim Mayza relieved and retired pinch-hitter Jesús Sánchez on a 5-4-3 double play. Jordan Romano closed with a scoreless ninth for his 21st save. Kikuchi retired the first nine before Arraez’s leadoff single in the fourth. Arraez was quickly erased after Jorge Soler grounded into a double play. Matt Chapman had two hits and a walk for the Blue Jays. Marlins rookie Eury Pérez limited Toronto to three hits and struck out nine in his eighth career start. The 20-year-old right-hander was lifted after 80 pitches. TRAINER’S ROOM Blue Jays: 1B-DH Brandon Belt (left hamstring inflammation) ran the bases and hit off a machine before the game as he nears a return to the active list. “¦ RHP Zac Pop (right hamstring strain) will make a rehab appearance with triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. Marlins: RHP Johnny Cueto (right biceps tightness) is scheduled to make a rehab start with triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. UP NEXT Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (6-3, 3.01) will start the series finale Wednesday against RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-5, 4.97). — AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports 17-16
