Instant Reactions: Blue Jays keep winning on the road with comeback win in extra innings against Cardinals

The score would remain 2-0 until the top of the eighth inning, but Kirk had other plans. Reliever Riley O’Brien put a sinker high and tight on the Mexican product, and the Jays catcher belted it 404 feet over the centre field wall, scoring one run.

Things got interesting for the Jays’ relief corps in the bottom of the eighth. Brendon Little was in the game and produced a walk and a single with two outs to put a runner in scoring position. Yariel Rodriguez took over for Little with two outs in his pocket, but Cardinals slugger Willson Contreras singled to right field, scoring one and putting runners on the corners. That didn’t matter overall, as catcher Ivan Herrera would make it 4-3 for the home team by sending a hanging slider over the left field wall and giving his team the lead late in the game.

Toronto had just three outs to their name in the top of the ninth against reliever Ryan Helsley, however, Jonatan Clase wasn’t ready to give up the game that quickly. Batting from the left side of the box, a 97.8 MPH fastball sitting middle-middle would be deposited promptly into the left-centre field stands for his first knock of the season, tying the game and eventually sending it into extra innings.

With a runner on second to start extras, Kirk continued to play hero and deposited a double into the corner to score one run. While the Jays’ bats threatened by loading the bases via a couple of walks, Ernie Clement would end the frame by grounding into a double play.

Up came Jeff Hoffman, who was looking to lock down the game and give the Jays another win on their record. A strikeout, groundout, and lineout got the job done on just nine pitches, eight of which were strikes.

Overall, it was the Jose Berrios and Alejandro Kirk show last night in St. Louis, considering Berrios’ impressive outing and Kirk going 4 for 5 on the night with his clutch double and home run. Bichette, Guerrero, Barger, Springer, Gimenez, Clement, and Clase all joined in on the hit parade, and Kirk led the day with his two RBIs.

Toronto will face St. Louis later tonight, with Chris Bassitt facing off against Miles Mikolas, with the Blue Jays looking to take another series on the road.