Bo Bichette bounced a two-run single into right field with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Washington Nationals 5-3 on Tuesday night.
Toronto has won three straight games, including the first two of the three-game series with Washington.
Toronto scored three runs on five singles in the second inning, the only runs allowed by Washington starter Trevor Williams. He gave up 10 hits in five innings, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Andres Gimenez, Alejandro Kirk and George Springer singled to produce one run. Will Wagner bunted to third for a single that loaded the bases. The second run scored on Ernie Clement’s fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop. Alan Roden’s infield single up the middle to a diving shortstop CJ Abrams scored the third run.
Toronto starter Jose Berrios struck out four of his first six batters. The right-hander did not allow a hit until Abrams led off the fourth with a double to the right field corner. Free-swinging Keibert Ruiz walked on four pitches with one out. The rally fizzled when Abrams was doubled off second base on Nathaniel Lowe’s line drive to second.
Washington scored two in the sixth. Alex Call singled and was forced at second by Jacob Young, who advanced to third on Abrams’ single to center. Abrams stole second as James Wood struck out. Ruiz drove in both runners with his single to right. Lowe walked and Yariel Rodriguez replaced Berrios, who allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Washington tied the game at 3 in the seventh. Call doubled with one out and took third on a groundout. Mason Fluharty replaced Rodriguez to make his major league debut and allowed Abrams’ game-tying double to right.
Washington’s Jose A. Ferrer (0-1) was charged with two unearned runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Toronto’s Chad Green (1-0) got the final out of the top of the eighth with a strikeout of Josh Bell.
Springer led off the bottom of the eighth with a single and took second when Wagner reached first on Ferrer’s error on a sacrifice bunt. Clement bunted the runners to second and third, and pinch-hitter Davis Schneider struck out. Bichette’s spinning bouncer down the first-base line plated both runners.
Jeff Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save.
–Field Level Media
