Blue Jays blow 5-0 lead, lose 8-7 to lowly Rockies
By Jack Magruder, The Associated Press on September 2, 2023.
DENVER (AP) – Brenton Doyle hit a three-run triple in a four-run fifth inning, Charlie Blackmon had three hits and three RBIs on his bobblehead night, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-7 on Saturday. Doyle’s two-out triple gave the Rockies a 7-5 lead and Blackmon followed with an RBI single as the Rockies broke a four-game losing streak and won for just the second time in their last 12 games. Kevin Kiermaier homered and Whit Merrifield and Santiago Espinal had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who remained 1 1/2 games behind Texas for the third AL wild card. Toronto had won four of six. Toronto, which led 5-0 in the second inning, rallied in the ninth. George Springer walked to open the inning and Davis Schneider tripled off Justin Lawrence as the Jays closed to 8-6. Lawrence got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a short fly out and struck out Merrifield before Schneider scored on a wild pitch. Alejandro Kirk and Cavan Biggio walked and Daulton Varsho was hit on a 1-1 pitch to load the bases. Tyler Kinley replaced Lawrence and struck out pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz for his first save in two chances. The Blue Jays scored four runs on six hits in the first inning, and Kiermaier’s seventh homer leading off the second made it 5-0 against Colorado left-hander Ty Blach (2-1), who gave up only two singles after that homer and pitched six innings. Colorado chipped away with four unearned runs off Blue Jays’ starter Yusei Kikuchi (3-5), two in the second inning and two in the fourth following a pair of errors by shortstop Ernie Clement. Clement is filling in for starter Bo Bichette, who is on the injured list. Springer doubled to open the game and the Blue Jays followed with five consecutive two-out singles. Espinal capped the rally with a two-run single, but the inning ended when Varsho was thrown out attempting to go from first to third. Clement committed a fielding error on Nolan Jones’ grounder leading off the second inning, and Blackmon’s a two-out, two-run single made it 5-2. Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-out, two-run double in the fourth after Clement’s throwing error on Sean Bouchard’s leadoff grounder as the Rockies closed to 5-4. Kikuchi walked Brendan Rodgers and Bouchard with two outs in the fifth and was replaced by Yimi Garcia, who walked Elehuris Montero to load the bases. Doyle tripled high off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field to give the Rockies their first lead. BOB-BOB-BOBBIN’ ALONG Colorado distributed Blackmon bobbleheads Saturday, and it may not be the last time. Blackmon is in the final year of a six-year, $108 million contract, but he said, “I’m not ready to retire right this second. I’m open to 2024 and beyond.” Blackmon entered the game hitting .285 with seven homers and 32 RBIs in a season interrupted by a fractured right hand that has limited him to 73 games. He has spent the entirety of his 13-year career with the Rockies, and staying put would mean a lot. “There is a lot to like about Denver,” Blackmon said. “I like being here. I think Denver likes me back. There is something to be said for that.” TRAINERS ROOM Blue Jays: SS Bichette (right quad strain) increased the volume of his running, took ground balls and hit in the cage before the game. “¦ 3B Matt Chapman (sprained finger) has not begun baseball activity. “They’re doing well,” manager John Schneider said. Rockies: RHP Chase Anderson (shoulder) will be activated from the IL to start Sunday, manager Bud Black said. A corresponding move will be announced Sunday. UP NEXT Toronto RHP Kevin Gausman (10-8, 3.30 ERA) is scheduled to face Colorado RHP Anderson (0-4, 6.08) in Sunday’s series finale. — AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb 22-21
