TORONTO – Yusei Kikuchi failed to avoid wasting his finest for his final outing in a Toronto Blue Jays uniform, however he felt he went out a winner after receiving a standing ovation from the Rogers Centre crowd on Friday.
Kikuchi departed after 4 2/3 innings, lengthy earlier than Ernie Clement’s first profession walk-off single with the bases loaded within the ninth inning that gave the Blue Jays (47-56) a 6-5 win of their weekend sequence opener towards the Texas Rangers (51-53).
“I gave up 5 runs and the followers nonetheless gave me a standing ovation,” Kikuchi stated via his interpreter. “It was a reasonably large second for me.”
Two days in the past, Toronto basic supervisor Ross Atkins summoned Kikuchi for a gathering. Atkins knowledgeable the left-handed starter that it was “extremely doubtless” he can be traded.
Kikuchi’s three-year take care of the Blue Jays expires on the finish of the season.
The Japanese pitcher was at 96 pitches with 5 strikeouts and two walks when Toronto supervisor John Schneider lifted Kikuchi from the sport earlier than an appreciative 35,065.
“It’s a bit of bit bizarre and new for him,” Schneider stated of his pitcher ready for a commerce. “It might have been simple to let him end the fifth. However I wished the followers to acknowledge him a bit of bit, too.”
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Kikuchi gave up a two-run homer to Adolis Garcia within the fifth inning and allowed the Rangers to drag forward 5-4. However the Blue Jays tied the sport within the seventh inning with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from Danny Jansen.
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With opposing pitching throwing round Vladimir Guerrero Jr. due to his current sizzling streak, the Blue Jays wanted hitters behind him within the order to step up.
Jansen was fourth within the lineup, one spot behind Guerrero. The fifth hitter, Spencer Horwitz, knocked in two runs as did Clement within the sixth spot.
Shortstop Leo Jimenez additionally had two hits and an RBI from the eighth slot.
Jimenez knocked in Davis Schneider within the fourth inning for the go-ahead 4-3 run with a single to centre after Schneider doubled into the right-field nook.
The Blue Jays led 3-1 after the primary inning due to a two-run double from rookie Horwitz. He scored on Clement’s double to left.
The defending World Sequence champions drew even at 3-3 within the third inning off a bases-loaded single up the center from catcher Jonah Heim.
Jays’ reliever Chad Inexperienced (3-2) received all 4 batters he confronted within the eighth and ninth, together with two strikeouts. Texas reliever Josh Shorz (2-1) put the successful run on base within the ninth.
Texas starter Andrew Heaney lasted 5 innings. He surrendered 4 runs on seven hits with a stroll and 4 strikeouts.
GARCIA GONE
Yimi Garcia arrived at Rogers Centre along with his suitcase packed, simply in case. The Blue Jays dealt the reliever to the Seattle Mariners in trade for minor league outfielder Jonatan Chase and catcher Jacob Sharp.
The 22-year-old Chase was the Tenth-ranked prospect within the Mariners system. He made his MLB debut earlier this season and noticed motion in 41 video games with a .195 common (8-for-41).
Though Chase doubtless will get a glance in Toronto later this season, the Blue Jays optioned him to triple-A Buffalo.
The 22-year-old Sharp was optioned to Excessive-A Vancouver. He was enjoying for the single-A Modesta within the California League.
Garcia, 34, was one among a number of Blue Jays whose contract expires on the finish of the season.
“He’s not solely a extremely good pitcher, however he’s a great human being,” Schneider stated. “He’s meant rather a lot. He’s pitched quite a lot of large innings.”
Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Jansen, Kevin Kiermaier and reliever Trevor Richards are in the identical state of affairs as Garcia and in addition are candidates to be moved earlier than Tuesday’s commerce deadline.
ON DECK
Kevin Gausman (8-8) will begin for the Blue Jays within the center sport of the three-game set towards Texas on Saturday. The Rangers will counter with Michael Lorenzen (5-5).
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 26, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press