TORONTO (AP) – Bo Bischet made two home runs, pitcher Alec Manoa tied the highest level of his career in eight innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Saturday.
Bichette’s first was a solo home run against right-wing Hunter Green in the fourth, number 50 in Bichette’s career. He added a double shot against Luis Sesa (2-1) in the seventh. They both went out on the field in his sixth game with many hosts in their careers.
“I never knew 50 was a milestone,” Bischet said. “I am grateful to be here and to have the opportunity to achieve home runs in the big championships.”
All of Bishet’s six home runs this season have leveled the game or given the lead to the Blue Jays.
Green allowed one run and four shots in six innings, walking two and scoring six in his first start after throwing 7 1/3 unbeaten innings against Pittsburgh last Sunday.
Manoah (5-1) allowed one run and seven strokes to break a three-win winless streak and win his first W on April 28 against Boston. He didn’t walk one and caught four.
“It’s special to watch him do his job,” Bischet told Manoah.
Jordan Romano hit the country in the ninth for his 14th save in AL with 16 chances, inflating his Canadian counterpart Joey Voto for the second out.
Starting with DH, Votto made 1 for 4 with a double in his second game after returning from COVID-19.
“I don’t think he’s exactly where he wants to be, but he’s getting closer,” said Reds manager David Bell.
After Tyler Nakwin withdrew in an attempt to end the eighth, Manoah raised a finger as he returned to the dugout, as if showing that he wanted another inning. Guidance coach Pete Walker spent time chatting with the animated Manoa while the Blue Jays clashed, explaining manager Charlie Montoyo’s decision to put him in after 83 games.
“We have the best in baseball,” Manoah said later. “No matter what my number on the field, he will enter.”
The Reds found the result in RBI’s Voto double in the fourth, which came after a unique double game that nearly stopped the Cincinnati rally before it began.
TJ Friedl scored to open the inning and advanced to third in a double by Tyler Naquin. Tommy Pham broke his bat on the first field he saw from Manoah, sending a liner back to the mound. Manoa escaped a jagged piece of broken bat and caught it, then quickly threw it to a third to double Friedl.
After receiving 22 outs without giving up on hitting the Pirates, Green withdrew the first bats he faced on Saturday before releasing two outs against Alejandro Kirk in the second. Matt Chapman turned out to end the inning.
Green withdrew the country on four pitches in the third, but his streak ended without a hit when Bichette entered the first field of the fourth.
Green finished his outing, inflating Chapman again to leave the bases loaded in the sixth.
“Of all the things Hunter has done this year, this may be my favorite moment so far,” Bell said.
Tyrol Stevenson of Cincinnati doubled to start seventh and move third to Mike Mustakas, but Manoa blew Colin Moran away before second baseman Santiago Espinal stopped at Alejo Lopez’s ground to end the inning.
GREEN ON THE WEAPON
Green threw 24 of his 84 shots at 100 mph or faster. The other 13 were at least 99 mph. His fastest was 101.4 mph, which Chapman fouled in the second.
FIRST TIME IN TORONTO
Green said he was excited to pick up the mound in Toronto on his first trip to Canada’s largest city.
“I’ve always wanted to play here, in this environment, here in this stadium,” he said. “Being able to do well was really, really good and it was special.”
One thing Green wanted while north of the border was a photo of him heading into the CN Tower in the background. He made his wish come true when the roof opened before the top of the fourth, allowing a Reds officer to receive the blow.
WEB GEM
Friedl crashed into the center wall of the field after catching George Springer’s deep skin at the bottom of the first.
COACH ROOM
Reds: SS Kyle Farmer was excluded from the starting lineup (rest).
Blue Jays: Lourdes Guriel Jr. is back in the 1B squad. Gurriel left Wednesday’s match against Seattle due to pain in his left hamstring. … Vladimir Guerrero Jr. starts at DH.
NEXT
The Reds have scratched RHP Connor Overton (behind) from Sunday’s scheduled start and will instead turn to RHP Graham Ashcraft to make their Premier League debut against Blue Jays LHP Yusei Kikuchi (2-1, 3.38). Kikuchi is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA in his last three starts.
___
More AP MLB: and
Add Comment