Instant Reaction: Blue Jays survive late comeback attempt to sweep the Giants

In the bottom of the third, the Blue Jays got their first lead of the game, as Bo Bichette hit a two-RBI double to put the Jays up 3-1. The Giants got a run back in the top of the fifth as Andrew Knizner hit an RBI-single, but that didn’t last for long.

Leading off the bottom of the fifth, George Springer hit his team-leading 17th home run of the season to restore the Blue Jays’ 4-2 lead. With Bichette on third, Alejandro Kirk hit an RBI single to give the Jays a 5-2 lead.

The inning was capped off by Addison Barger, as he ripped a ball 407 feet for two more runs with one swing of the bat. Safe to say the Jays needed those runs, as Matt Chapman hit a home run against his former team, with the Giants putting up four runs in the inning.

Guerrero Jr. drove in another run thanks to an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Blue Jays an 8-6 lead. That’s all they needed, as the bullpen shut the door for the win.

Takeaways…

It’s good to see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. get going, as his home run in the bottom of the first was his first long ball since June 29 against the Boston Red Sox. After scuffling at the plate in the two series before the All-Star Game, Springer had a great series, just in time for the New York Yankees’ arrival on Monday.

What else can you say about Addison Barger, as he hit his 14th home run of the season. During the broadcast, it was noted that the third baseman/right fielder also hit a 115 mph rocket in the batting cage. While that’s already impressive, he did it right-handed, as he’s a natural righty. Is it a possibility he’ll turn to switch-hitting in the future?

There were two former Blue Jays on the Giants who had an impact. Matt Chapman’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth got them back into the game. It wasn’t a good start for Robbie Ray, as he gave up five earned runs in four and a third innings. This was only the second time Ray has given up four earned runs or more, and the first time since April 16.

José Berríos didn’t have the best start, as he gave up four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings. Two of those earned runs came off the bat of Chapman as Berríos struggled in the final two innings.

Braydon Fisher gave up two earned runs in this game, the third and fourth earned runs he’s given up out of the bullpen. Justin Bruihl pitched two-thirds of an inning, getting a strikeout. The saviour of the Jays’ bullpen in this game was Tommy Nance, as he struck out three in an inning and two-thirds. Yariel Rodríguez picked up the save.

This was the Blue Jays’ sixth sweep of the season, surpassing the five sweeps they had in 2024. With the win, the Jays will be at worst three games above the Yankees as they welcome them to Rogers Centre on Monday for a three-game series. Imagine they sweep this series as well.

That game starts at 7:07 PM ET, with Kevin Gausman expected to start. Carlos Rodón is set to go for the Yankees.