TORONTO – Some Main League Baseball gamers can be offended if the opposing crew deliberately walked the 2 hitters forward of them to load the bases in additional innings.
However not Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk. He was philosophical about it.
Kirk’s RBI single within the tenth inning accomplished Toronto’s comeback for a 7-6 win over the Boston Pink Sox on Wednesday. He’d additionally hit a solo dwelling run as a part of a three-run sixth inning because the Blue Jays erased a 6-0 deficit.
The sunshine-hitting catcher — Kirk is hitting .239 on the season even after going 2 for five on Wednesday — got here to the plate with the bases loaded after Pink Sox supervisor Alex Cora determined to stroll George Springer and Daulton Varsho to load the bases after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. began the inning on second.
“Clearly, you get some motivation, however that’s the secret,” stated Kirk via translator Hector “Tito” Lebron. “That’s their determination, the best way that they walked the 2 guys in entrance of me.
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“I simply was prepared for my at bat and I got here via.”
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Kirk’s single to centre discipline scored Guerrero and introduced his teammates streaming on to the sphere out of the house dugout at Rogers Centre. The win ended Toronto’s three-game skid.
It additionally accomplished a rally began by Varsho’s two-run homer within the sixth, instantly adopted by Kirk’s solo shot. Anthony Santander’s three-run blast within the seventh tied the sport 6-6 and compelled additional innings for the Blue Jays (14-16).
“Oh, that was lots of emotion proper there,” stated Santander of his fourth homer of the season. “I really feel nice as a result of to tie the sport proper there, in that scenario late within the recreation, put the crew in a superb place to win the ball recreation.”
Toronto had gone 11 video games with out scoring greater than 4 runs in a single outing till Santander’s homer. Even with the seven-run outing on Wednesday, the Blue Jays have scored the fifth fewest runs in MLB this season.
“A win like this may do loads for you,” stated Toronto supervisor John Schneider. “I feel it brings guys collectively and whenever you’re going via somewhat little bit of a troublesome stretch, you’re ready for one thing like this.
“Generally it takes one thing like this to get you going.”
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES — Eric Lauer was known as up from the triple-A Buffalo Bisons late Tuesday night time to assist shore up the Blue Jays’ rotation.
The one drawback? He was scheduled to start out for the Bisons in opposition to the Iowa Cubs in Des Moines on Wednesday afternoon.
“Bought up fairly early this morning and took a pair flights, acquired right here about noonish, took a strong nap and got here straight to the clubhouse and was able to rock,” stated Lauer, who gave up two runs over 4 innings of labor in opposition to the Pink Sox.
It was Lauer’s first MLB look since 2023 when he was a starter for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Lauer’s addition to Toronto’s roster was vital because the Blue Jays are at present with out a fifth pitcher within the rotation. Wednesday had already been designated a bullpen day by Schneider with reliever Yariel Rodriguez pitching the primary inning earlier than giving strategy to Lauer.
The 29-year-old Lauer had a 4-6 document with a 6.56 earned-run common in 2023 for the Brewers, hanging out 43 over 46 2/3 innings.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 30, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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