Addison Barger delivered a game-winning single in the 11th inning, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. This clutch hit, which came with two outs and the bases loaded, marked the Blue Jays’ seventh consecutive win, boosting their position as the leaders of the American League East.
Barger’s pivotal moment came against Angels’ reliever Ryan Zeferjahn, who suffered the loss in this close game. Braydon Fisher earned the win for the Blue Jays after a solid performance in the 10th and 11th innings, improving his record to 3-0.
The game also saw a notable performance from Lazaro Estrada, who made his Major League Baseball debut. Estrada pitched four strong innings, yielding only a pair of singles. However, the Angels managed to tie the game in the seventh when Nolan Schanuel’s hit brought in Luis Rengifo.
George Springer sparked the Blue Jays by hitting a massive two-run homer in the third inning, further extending his impressive performance with 21 RBIs over his last 13 games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., returning to play after a brief injury, contributed with three hits in four at-bats.
The Angels had previously taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the third thanks to a sacrifice fly by Jo Adell. Meanwhile, Max Scherzer made his comeback start for the Angels, striking out three in the second inning but leaving after four frames due to a high pitch count.
Injuries played a role in the Blue Jays’ lineup, as Yimi Garcia was placed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained left ankle, leading to Robinson Pena’s recall from Triple-A Buffalo.
Overall, this nail-biter showcased the Blue Jays’ resilience and team spirit, creating an optimistic outlook as they continue to push for a strong season. The series finale will see Kevin Gausman on the mound for Toronto against Tyler Anderson of the Angels.