With home runs galore, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
Kevin Kiermaier, Brandon Belt (twice), George Springer and Bo Bichette all threw the ball wide in the win that allowed Canada’s only major league team to go the three-game streak (2-1) against the club to win Ohio.
Bichette has played a second game since returning from injury. He had missed 16 games due to tendinitis in his right knee. After making a hit and a run the day before, the star player hit twice from the safefield, hit a run and hit the plate twice.
On the hill, Jays starter Hyun Jin Ryu earned his second win of the season. He allowed two runs from four hits and knocked out seven opponents in five innings.
The Blue Jays also found a way to muzzle the superb Elly De La Cruz. The Reds’ young sensation has done nothing in four plate appearances and, remarkably, has been beaten twice.
At the height of the US wild card race, the Blue Jays are a half-game behind the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, the last two teams that would qualify for the playoffs if they started tomorrow morning. The Mariners also recorded a 7-6 win over the Astros in the afternoon.
Manoah is still in Toronto
Despite being demoted to the Buffalo Bisons in the AAA on Aug. 11, Blue Jays gunner Alek Manoah is still in the Queen City.
That’s what manager John Schneider said on Saturday when asked about the 25-year-old’s imminent departure. He couldn’t say when his player would return to the mound.
This is the second time Manoah has been demoted this year after coming through a very difficult campaign. The 2022 LA Cy Young finalist has won 3-9 so far this season with a 5.87 ERA. He also gave his rivals 59 free passes in 19 starts.