TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays have been as soon as once more mounting a late comeback on Wednesday evening with Andres Gimenez and Nathan Lukes hitting RBI singles within the eighth inning to tie up a sport with the Houston Astros 2-2.
Toronto nearer Jeff Hoffman got here on within the ninth, seeking to slam the door on Houston’s hitters and setup a walkoff alternative for his Blue Jays teammates or power further innings.
However then Astros catcher Yainer Diaz acquired a chunk of a 94.7 m.p.h. four-seam fastball from Hoffman, launching it 385 ft to left-centre area. The Blue Jays batters couldn’t rating within the backside of the inning and Toronto misplaced 3-2.
“He’s acquired good things, I nonetheless belief him,” mentioned supervisor John Schneider after the loss. “He’s been throwing the ball very well, and one unhealthy pitch tonight.”
That pitch was inside on Diaz — Schneider mentioned that was the technique for all of his pitchers towards the Houston catcher — however apparently wasn’t tight sufficient on the right-handed hitter’s fingers.
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“I really feel like a damaged document, nevertheless it’s only one unhealthy pitch,” mentioned Schneider. “”I really feel like they go hand-in-hand with Hoff. It’s the house runs which can be clearly going to harm you.
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“We’re making an attempt to go in on Diaz all evening and (the pitch) was middle-middle. I feel the distinction between when he’s actually good and when he has a tough outing, that’s it, ? It’s simply the injury proper there.”
Hoffman allowed 9 dwelling runs over 118 2/3 innings for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 and 2024, then signed a three-year, US$33 million contract with Toronto on Jan. 10.
He has now given up 15 dwelling runs in 62 1/3 innings this season.
“I feel groups put together somewhat bit in another way for a quote-unquote nearer,” mentioned Schneider. “What we’ve been specifically is the pitch deployment and whenever you’re throwing what pitch and what counts.
“He’s acquired three completely different weapons which can be actually good, and I feel simply making an attempt to make use of all of them appropriately is the place the injury has come somewhat bit.”
Beginning pitcher Jose Berrios allowed two runs on 5 hits and a stroll over 5 1/3 innings of labor for the Blue Jays. He struck out 4 and was pulled after giving up a solo dwelling run to Astros third baseman Carlos Correa on his 81st pitch of the evening.
Berrios mentioned he would have most well-liked to see Toronto full its comeback however that he was happy with his teammates nonetheless.
“I feel we have now been exhibiting that each one 12 months lengthy,” he mentioned outdoors the Blue Jays locker-room at Rogers Centre. “Each participant in that clubhouse is contributing to the group.
“It’s enjoyable to observe. We proper collectively till the final out.”
Regardless of Toronto’s loss, the Blue Jays maintained their three-game lead within the AL East as a result of the New York Yankees misplaced to the Detroit Tigers 11-1 and the Boston Crimson Sox fell to the Athletics 5-4.
Detroit (84-62) moved a half sport forward of Toronto (83-62) for the perfect document within the American League, nevertheless.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Sept. 10, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
