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TORONTO – Austin Riley had a standout performance, driving in five runs with two home runs, while Sean Murphy added a two-run homer to lead the Atlanta Braves to an 8-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Monday night.
Murphy’s home run came in the first inning against Toronto pitcher Easton Lucas (2-1), who struggled after showing promise in his earlier outings. Riley then extended Atlanta’s lead with a hit in the third and a three-run homer during a pivotal four-run fifth inning.
Braves starter Grant Holmes was dominant early, retiring the first 12 batters he faced. He encountered difficulty in the fifth, issuing a walk to Andres Gimenez, but Toronto’s first hit came from Myles Straw, who launched a solo home run in the sixth inning.
Holmes (1-1) delivered an impressive outing, allowing only two hits and three earned runs over 7 2/3 innings, accompanied by four strikeouts.
Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received a warm reception from the crowd of 21,595 as he stepped up to bat for the first time. This game marked his first appearance at home since signing a lucrative 14-year contract extension worth US$500 million.
In contrast, Lucas had a rough outing, allowing eight earned runs, four walks, and six hits in just five innings. The Blue Jays utilized relievers Jacob Barnes and Yariel Rodriguez, who managed two innings each without allowing significant damage. Tyler Heineman contributed a two-run double, and Ernie Clement followed with an RBI single in the ninth inning.
The game lasted just over two hours, showcasing intense moments as the Braves secured a strong opening to their series against the Blue Jays.
SORE THUMB
Max Scherzer, currently on the injured list due to a thumb injury, will revisit a hand specialist later this week, as confirmed by Blue Jays manager John Schneider.
Scherzer had received a cortisone injection for his right thumb on March 31 during an earlier consultation.
INJURY UPDATES
Toronto outfielder George Springer is considered day-to-day due to left wrist inflammation. He exited the game in the fifth inning of Sunday’s contest against Baltimore after experiencing discomfort. Preliminary examinations, including an X-ray and MRI, returned normal results.
COMING UP
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will start Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.33 ERA) in their next matchup against Spencer Schwellenbach (1-0, 0.45) on Tuesday night.
Source
globalnews.ca