Blue Jays sweep D-backs with 8th win in 9 games

TORONTO — The Blue Jays have burst out of the gates within the second half, finishing the sweep of the D-backs on Sunday at Rogers Centre for his or her eighth win prior to now 9 video games.

The 7-5 win featured one other robust efficiency from the Blue Jays’ bullpen, outdoors of lengthy man Mitch White stumbling close to the end line, as the remainder of that group has quietly emerged as one in every of baseball’s finest. It may have gone off the rails a lot earlier, although, if it weren’t for an adjustment from starter Yusei Kikuchi.

With 26 balls and 23 strikes by his first two innings, Kikuchi’s pitches scattered throughout, difficult catcher Danny Jansen. A yr in the past, that might spell an early finish for Kikuchi, however we’ve seen a calmer, extra adaptable model of him in 2023, which has allowed him to make higher in-game changes like Sunday’s. The 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball (one earned) Kikuchi gave the Blue Jays wasn’t supreme, however given the way it began, it may have been a lot worse.

Toronto managed to chip away early, however for the third sport in a row, the membership obtained a lift of late offense. This time, it got here from Jansen, who ripped a bases-clearing double within the backside of the eighth to present the Blue Jays some critical respiration room.

The sweep strikes the Blue Jays to 53-41, their highest mark above .500 this season, as they give the impression of being to create some early separation within the American League Wild Card race. The AL East, which has lengthy felt insurmountable, isn’t so steep a mountain anymore, both, because the Rays have misplaced some steam these days, with seven losses of their previous 10 video games.

Heading into an off-day on Monday, this can be a dream begin for the Blue Jays earlier than they welcome the Padres to city Tuesday.