The Toronto Blue Jays got off to a poor start to their three-game streak against the Chicago Cubs after losing 6-2 at Toronto’s Rogers Center on Friday.
The Jays’ offense has been struggling lately as they have only five points in their last four games.
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The visitors started the opening round with three points. Cody Bellinger and Nico Hoerner also stretched out their arms on this lap.
The Cubs brought it back in the fourth inning by adding three more runs to the scoreboard. Seiya Suzuki first hit a double strike down the left flank that allowed two of his teammates to score. After that, midfielder Mike Tauchman placed the ball in midfield for safety and Suzuki then crossed the plate.
Alejandro Kirk and Brandon Belt were the only ones to score for the Jays during the duel. Kirk hit a single inning in the fourth while Belt hit his eleventh long pitch of the season.
Before the game, the Jays sent 2022 Cy-Young Trophy finalist Alek Manoah to the minors.
The right-handed pitcher has been struggling on the mound this year and will regain his confidence in the AAA ranks in Buffalo. That’s several notches up from his last relegation in June when he was sent to the Florida Training Complex League.
In his last start Thursday night against the Cleveland Guardians, Manoah allowed four runs and four hits in as many innings. His ERA is up to 5.87 and he’s up 3-9.
Without the 25-year-old shooter, the Jays will continue the season with a rotation of five starting pitchers. Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi and Hyun-jin Ryu. They also recalled right-hander Hagen Danner from the AAA ranks.
John Schneider’s men will have a chance to redeem themselves on Saturday when they face the same Cubs again. In addition, former Jays power hitter Jose Bautista will be honored before the game.
A crushing defeat for Édouard Julien and the Twins
The Philadelphia Phillies made short work of the Minnesota Twins with a 13-2 win at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Friday night.
This is Minnesota’s fourth loss in a row.
Quebec’s Édouard Julien came on in the seventh inning, replacing Carlos Correa at the shortstop. Julien made just one batting appearance and walked in the eighth inning.