Instant Reaction: Blue Jays finish with two hits in 4-1 loss to Cubs

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Ryley Delaney | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 9:45 PM ET

That was one of the more frustrating games of the season.

On Wednesday evening, the Toronto Blue Jays fell 4-1 to the Chicago Cubs, dropping their record to 70-51. Thankfully, the Boston Red Sox also lost on Wednesday, meaning the Jays maintain their four-and-a-half game lead for the top of the American League East. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.

The Cubs took the lead in the top of the third, as Michael Busch just got enough of a pitch to lift it to right field. Matt Shaw hit a home run in the top of the fifth to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Jays scored their only run of the game thanks to a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single, and they even threatened to add a few more, but the ballpark contained Addison Barger’s opposite-field drive.

Vladdy is hitting .380 in the second half pic.twitter.com/5KBBcwYSjs

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 14, 2025

Everything went wrong in the top of the eighth. Braydon Fisher struggled with command, walking Matt Shaw on four pitches. A stolen base and a swing bunt hit put runners on the corners after a long injury delay, more on that in the takeaways. The Cubs added cashed those runs in thanks to a sacrifice fly and a single, giving them a 4-1 lead.

Takeaways…

Some things are bigger than baseball, and Miguel Amaya’s injury in the top of the eighth was a brutal one. Hopefully, it’s a case of looking worse than it is. Either way, wishing nothing but the best for the young catcher.

Cade Horton came into this game without giving up a run since July 9. He threw five no-hit innings before Andrés Giménez finally gave the Jays a hit. After a 10-pitch at-bat against Bo Bichette, Horton was pulled, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled off Andrew Kittredge to snap Horton’s scoreless inning streak at 29 innings.

Kevin Gausman did enough to give the Jays the win, pitching seven innings while allowing just two hits, but the Blue Jays’ bats just weren’t good enough. Their only two hits came in the bottom of the sixth.

Braydon Fisher had a rough outing, giving up two runs in a third of an inning. His command was pretty brutal, throwing four consecutive balls to the first batter. Mason Fluharty struck out the two batters he faced, and Tommy Nance pitched a scoreless inning.

The loss sets up a rubber match against the Cubs on Thursday afternoon, a 3:07 PM ET start time. Max Scherzer gets the ball for the Blue Jays.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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