Springer provides 5-run 1st inning as Blue Jays bounce back to beat Giants
A five-run first inning helped Toronto’s so-called bullpen day go according to plan Wednesday night. Quality performances from four Blue Jays pitchers also helped.
Trevor Richards pitched three shutout innings and Bowden Francis got his first big league win as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting San Francisco Giants 6-1 at Rogers Center.
“It’s great, it’s definitely a lot of emotions and stuff,” said Francis, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo last Saturday. “It’s a long road. It feels good.”
Francis, a seventh-round pick for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017, allowed one run over four innings. The tall right-hander made his debut with the Blue Jays last season and played a total of six major league appearances.
“He never let a single moment get too big,” said Toronto manager John Schneider. “I know we had a head start, but I just loved the way he stayed confident and really composed and executed his pitches.”
George Springer had three hits as Toronto improved to 3–2 on their nine-game homestand, ending San Francisco’s ten-game winning streak on the road.
It was a GIGANTIC inning 🖐 pic.twitter.com/okd7uTgsyY
It was the Giants’ third loss in 16 total games. Toronto beat San Francisco 12-6.
Trent Thornton and Yimi Garcia each pitched an inning for the Blue Jays (44-37), who needed the bullpen to fill the void left by starter Alek Manoah’s demotion this month.
Five different players accounted for runs in the first inning, as all nine batters in the order came to bat against Giants-starter Logan Webb (7-7), who lasted five frames.
“They did a good job jumping on his fields early in the counts,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler.
Bo Bichette extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI-single. Brandon Belt, Daulton Varsho and Whit Merrifield had RBI doubles and Danny Jansen singled in a run.
No one in the American League has more hits than Bo Bichette ⭐️
Make him an All-Star: https://t.co/s7rxDvf5zz pic.twitter.com/jNWGdCldEh
Austin Slater put the Giants (45-35) on the board in the fifth inning with a solo shot. It was his second homer of the year.
The retractable roof was closed in Rogers Center as smoke from wildfires lingered in Ontario’s capital.
An announced crowd of 36,685 people watched a game that lasted two hours and 11 minutes.
Richards recorded his 500th career strikeout when he fanned Patrick Bailey in the first inning. The right-hander reduced his earned point average from 3.53 to 3.26.
Toronto righthander Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.32 ERA) will start Thursday-evening in the final of the three-game series. The Giants listed their starter as TBA.
