Blue Jays score five runs in first inning and roll to 6-1 victory over Giants
George Springer had three hits and starter Trevor Richards threw three strong innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-1 on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays scored five runs in the first inning against Giants starter Logan Webb, who lasted five frames.
Toronto improved to 3-2 on its nine-game homestand and ended San Francisco's 10-game road winning streak.
It was the Giants' third loss in 16 games overall. Toronto outhit San Francisco 12-6.
Richards struck out five and allowed one hit and one walk. The Blue Jays used a so-called bullpen game to fill the rotation void caused by Alek Manoah's demotion earlier this month.
Bowden Francis (1-0) worked four effective innings for the Blue Jays (44-37). Trent Thornton and Yimi Garcia threw an inning apiece.
The Toronto offence that was hushed in Tuesday's shutout loss came out firing in the rematch. Five different players drove in runs in the first inning as all nine batters in the order came to the plate against Webb (7-7).
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 drove in a run with a single.
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 Blue Jays tacked on an insurance run in the seventh against former Toronto pitcher Ross Stripling. Springer drove in Cavan Biggio, who reached on a double.
The retractable roof was closed at Rogers Centre as wildfire smoke continued to linger in the Ontario capital.
An announced crowd of 36,685 watched a game that took two hours 11 minutes to play.
CONFORTO INJURY
Giants right-fielder Michael Conforto left the game early due to left hamstring tightness. He was replaced in the second inning by Slater, who batted sixth in the order.
RICHARDS MILESTONE
Richards recorded his 500th career strikeout when he fanned Patrick Bailey in the first inning. The right-hander trimmed his earned-run average to 3.26 from 3.53.
COMING UP
Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.32 ERA) was scheduled to start in the finale of the three-game series on Thursday night. The Giants listed their starter as TBA.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
National ceremony in Ottawa marks Truth and Reconciliation Day
The smell of sage and sweetgrass floated in the air Monday over a mostly sombre ceremony to reflect on the legacy of residential schools and remember those who survived — and the thousands who didn't.
BREAKING Israeli military says 'limited' operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon has begun
Israel's widely expected ground invasion of Lebanon appeared to be getting underway early on Tuesday as its military said troops had begun 'limited' raids against Hezbollah targets in the border area.
Canada secures 800 plane seats to help its citizens get out of Lebanon
Ottawa must do more to help Canadian citizens leave Lebanon, says the son of a Canadian couple killed last week when an Israeli bomb hit their car in the country's south.
BREAKING Pete Rose, baseball's hits leader who was banned for life for betting on the game, dead at 83
Pete Rose, Major League Baseball's all-time hits leader who was banned from baseball for gambling on the game, has died at 83.
Dispute over cost of eradicating cockroaches in B.C. condo building settled by tribunal
A B.C. condo owner who was blamed for a cockroach infestation in her building and charged thousands of dollars for the cost of eradicating the bugs must be refunded, the civil resolution tribunal ruled.
Joly targets polarization in UN speech, urges liberals to reclaim the word 'freedom'
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is asking members of the United Nations to counter growing political polarization abroad while taking shots at Conservative rhetoric at home.
Health Canada recalls nearly 60 more unauthorized sexual enhancement products
Health Canada issued a recall last week for various sexual enhancement products for containing prescribed drugs like tadalafil and sildenafil.
TD Bank to pay more than US$28M in settlement for market manipulation
TD Bank Group has agreed to pay more than US$28 million after an investigation into manipulation of the U.S. Treasuries market by one of its traders.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs appeals for release while he awaits sex trafficking trial
Sean "Diddy" Combs is appealing a federal judge's decision to keep him in jail while he awaits trial on sex trafficking charges.