The Toronto Blue Jays came back four of the five points that separated them from the Brewers, but in vain in a 5-4 loss Saturday at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
The Brewers took the lead by scoring five runs through the first three innings, including a second-run three. The Jays gave signs of life in the fifth inning before adding runs in the eighth and ninth.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. gave the Torontonians a chance to force the end of the ninth inning by pushing Matt Chapman home with two outs. Reliever Josh Hader, however, forced rookie catcher Gabriel Moreno to ground out to first base to complete the save.
Chapman was the Jays’ main spark plug hitting three hits, including a solo homer in the fifth inning. Bo Bichette also hit the long ball in the eighth inning.
The Brewers’ push was started by a Tyrone Taylor single in the first inning that sent Willy Adames to the plate. This same Adames was behind the first three-run in the second inning with a single that allowed Keston Hiura to score. Veteran Andrew McCutchen then pushed Adames to complete his lap of the trails with his sixth homer of the year.
Hiura had made it to second due to an error by Bo Bichette. Mike Brosseau also sent the ball beyond the center-left field fence in the next inning to give his team a comfortable five-point lead.
The victory went to Corbin Burnes (6-4) who pitched seven and two-thirds innings while giving up only five hits and two walks. He allowed three runs while striking out nine batters.
For his part, it was Yusei Kikuchi who inherited the defeat by allowing five points, of which only two were deserved, in two sets of work. He gave up five hits and struck out five batters.
The Blue Jays relief muzzled the Brewers offense for the rest of the game. Trent Thornton took over at Kikuchi and took care of the third and fourth innings. Max Castillo then shut out his opponents for four innings.
Kirk was back on the Blue Jays roster, but as a designated hitter. Friday night, in a 9-4 victory, he was hit in the hand during Jonathan Davis’ backswing in the seventh inning.
Elsewhere in the National :
Cubs 3 – Cardinals 5
CHC: Rafael Ortega hit a two-run homer.
STL: Miles Mikolas allowed just one run and recorded nine strikeouts in six innings.
Mets 5 – Marlins 3
NYM: Pete Alonso hit two solo homers
MIA: Jesus Sanchez drove in two runs on a home run in the fourth inning
Reds – Giants
CIN :
SF :
Dodgers – Braves
LAD :
ATL :
Phillies – Padres
PHI :
SD :
Tigers – Diamondbacks
IT:
ARI :
