Kirk’s pinch-hit double and three homers by Toronto energy the Blue Jays previous the Rockies 13-9

DENVER — Pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk’s three-run double keyed a five-run seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays hit three homers in a 13-9 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night time.

Danny Jansen, Brandon Belt and Ernie Clement went deep for the Blue Jays, who’ve received 4 of six to maneuver inside 1 1/2 video games of slumping Texas for the ultimate AL wild card. Jansen exited later with a damaged finger.

Toronto had 17 hits and improved to 3-10 at Coors Field in its first journey to Colorado since 2019. George Springer and Whit Merrifield every had three hits, and Clement completed with three RBIs.

“Standard issue,” Springer mentioned about enjoying in Denver. “No lead is safe. Anybody can score a lot of runs at any time, and that’s not because of the arms on either team. You are never out of the game. You have to assume the other team is going to score runs. You have to assume there is an awkward spot in there, where there is a three- or four-run spot. Obviously, things got interesting there tonight.”

Colorado scored 4 occasions within the ninth off Chad Green, making his Blue Jays debut and his first main league look since present process Tommy John surgical procedure in June 2022. Jordan Romano bought the ultimate out.

Jansen’s two-run homer broke a 2-all tie within the sixth inning earlier than Nolan Jones’ three-run homer off reliever Genesis Cabrera (3-1) put Colorado again in entrance 5-4 within the backside of the inning. Jones has 14 homers in 78 video games.

PHOTOS: Kirk’s pinch-hit double and three homers by Toronto energy the Blue Jays previous the Rockies 13-9

“Nolan gave us a chance,” Rockies supervisor Bud Black mentioned.

Kevin Kiermaier and Springer singled to open the seventh towards Jake Bird (2-2) earlier than Davis Schneider doubled off the center-field fence to tie it at 5. Belt walked with one out and Kirk, batting for Jansen, doubled into the left-field nook for an 8-5 lead.

Kirk has doubled in 4 straight video games, a profession first.

Jansen was struck by a foul ball within the sixth. Initial X-rays confirmed a fractured proper center finger, and the catcher was to bear additional testing.

Merrifield doubled in Kirk for a 9-5 lead, and 4 Blue Jays relievers closed it out.

“It was just kind of passing the baton to the next guy,” supervisor John Schneider mentioned. “We talked about it before the game. No lead is really safe, so you have to keep adding on. It always seems to get a little dicey here, but the at-bats were really, really, really good. Getting the job done with men on base. It’s something we have talked about all year.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled dwelling a run within the eighth and Clement had a two-run triple in a three-run ninth.

Toronto starter Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up a two-run homer to Elehuris Montero within the third. Ryu lasted 5 innings in his sixth begin since lacking the primary 4 months of the season whereas recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure.

Belt opened the fourth together with his twenty fourth homer at Coors Field, after spending his first 12 seasons with division-rival San Francisco. Clement’s homer tied it at 2 within the fifth.

Colorado starter Chris Flexen has given up 22 homers in 78 1/3 innings this season.

SOFT SPOT

The Blue Jays started a stretch of 9 straight video games towards the three groups with the worst information in majors. After a three-game collection at Coors Field, they play three-game units at Oakland and at dwelling towards Kansas City.

“We’ve been telling the guys don’t look at record, it’s major league baseball,” John Schneider mentioned. “On paper it looks pretty enticing, but you have to really take it one game at a time.”

BACK IN THE BIGS

Green was activated from the 60-day injured record earlier than the sport. He spent the primary seven seasons of his profession with the Yankees, going 33-22 with a 3.17 ERA, and was within the playoffs yearly from 2017-21.

“It’s always the most exciting time of the year,” Green mentioned. “Anytime you get to play important games in September, it’s something I’m thankful to be a part of. A chance to do something special.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette (proper quad pressure) did operating drills, hit within the cage and took grounders earlier than the sport. “The fact that he is hitting without any pain is really good,” John Schneider mentioned. “He has a tendency to respond pretty well from injuries.” … 3B Matt Chapman (sprained finger) did early work on the sphere. … 1B/OF Spencer Horwitz was added when rosters expanded Friday.

Rockies: LHP Austin Gomber (again soreness) won’t make his scheduled begin Sunday however ought to return to the mound on the highway journey subsequent week, Black mentioned. RHP Chase Anderson (shoulder) is a candidate to be activated from the IL and begin Sunday. He has been out since July 22 … RHP Tyler Kinley (elbow) and OF Sean Bouchard (biceps) had been activated when rosters expanded.

UP NEXT

Toronto LHP Yusei Kikuchi (9-4, 3.63 ERA) is scheduled to face Rockies LHP Ty Blach (1-1, 3.94) on Saturday. Kikuchi has reached a profession excessive in wins and with 146 strikeouts is eighteen in need of one other profession greatest. He is 2-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his final eight begins.