In an exciting matchup on Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays secured a convincing 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at the Rogers Centre, marking the beginning of a six-game homestand. The win improved the Blue Jays' American League-best record to 70-50 and solidified their position with the top home record in the AL at 39-19.
Ernie Clement was a standout performer in the game, hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Blue Jays a significant lead. With teammates Daulton Varsho and Ty France on base, Clement capitalized on a first-pitch slider thrown by Cubs pitcher Javier Assad, marking his ninth home run of the season. Varsho himself contributed to the scoreboard later in the eighth inning with a solo home run, his twelfth of the year, further extending Toronto's lead.
Starting pitcher Jose Berrios had a strong showing for Toronto as well, pitching 5 1/3 innings of effective baseball. Despite facing control issues at times, Berrios (9-4) managed to limit the Cubs to just two hits and did not allow any runs during his outing. He walked four batters but demonstrated his resilience by escaping a bases-loaded situation in the third inning, striking out cleanup hitter Carson Kelly and completing the inning without damage. Berrios finished the night with three strikeouts to his name.
On the other hand, Cubs' pitcher Javier Assad, who was activated off the 60-day injured list earlier in the day, faced challenges throughout his four innings of work. Assad (0-1) surrendered four earned runs and allowed eight hits, alongside two strikeouts and one walk, contributing to the Blue Jays' offensive success.
The Cubs managed to score their only run in the seventh inning when Michael Busch drove in Dansby Swanson with a single. This late-game effort saw the team loading the bases but ended in frustration as Brendon Little struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong, preventing any further scoring. Overall, the game was dominated by the Blue Jays, who outhit the Cubs 12-4 in a display of offensive prowess.
In relief of Berrios, the Blue Jays utilized pitchers Mason Fluharty, Tommy Nance, Louis Varland, and Jeff Hoffman, successfully maintaining the lead in front of a sellout crowd of 43,003 fans at the Rogers Centre. The entire game lasted two hours and 43 minutes, showcasing an efficient performance by Toronto both at the plate and on the mound.
The combination of a powerful offense, led by Clement and Varsho, along with a strong pitching performance from Berrios, set the stage for the Blue Jays to kick off their homestand in style. The victory over the Cubs not only enhances their standings in the league but also boosts their confidence moving forward in the season.
