TORONTO – Kevin Gausman paid tribute to his younger teammate Bowden Francis on Sunday, who inspired the veteran pitcher’s top-notch performance.
Gausman struck out 10 in seven innings, and Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk hit two-run homers as the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-2 for their fourth straight win. The win came a day after Francis went hitless through the ninth inning, but gave up a leadoff home run to Taylor Ward in Toronto’s 3-1 win.
“Honestly, I just followed Bowden’s lead,” Gausman said. “It was pretty special to see him (on Saturday).”
The 33-year-old Gausman (12-9) enjoyed watching his 28-year-old teammate defeat the Angels. Francis won his third straight start, finishing with a career-high 12 strikeouts and a career-high 117 pitches.
“I thought he did a really good job of stealing strikes with his split,” Gausman said. “I knew coming into the game how good his split was (Saturday). It was definitely a pitch I wanted to throw a lot.”
The Blue Jays (63-68), who won three games against the struggling Angels (54-77) in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this month, are now seven-0 against a team in a season for the first time in franchise history.
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LA has the second-worst record in the American League, behind only the Chicago White Sox.
“From the starting pitching to the bats, the power, pretty good defense, the little things, the base running, like Will (Wagner) going from first to second (in the sixth), they just kept going,” Gausman said. “It’s not easy to sweep someone at any time of the year.
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“It’s not just a good feeling for the young players, it’s a good feeling for everyone.”
Gausman added to the Angels’ woes with a superb 94-in. He allowed just two hits, no walks, and retired the last 12 batters he faced.
“He’s got that Kevin Gausman stuff,” Schneider said. “When his speed is there and he gets ahead of the hitter, he’s pretty strong.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke a 1-1 Toronto tie with a double over the left-field wall, and George Springer scored from first base in the fifth.
Barger hit a two-run homer to right field with Wagner leading off the sixth. Kirk followed with a two-run homer to left field in the seventh after Guerrero was intentionally walked.
Gausman was perfect for three innings, but Ward ruined the party in the top of the fourth when he hit a triple to the right-center field wall. Toronto center fielder Joey Loperpido almost caught it, but he crashed back-first into the wall and the ball was blown out.
Ward scored on a single by Jack Netto to left.
The Blue Jays went ahead 1-0 in the third, when Davis Schneider led off with a walk and advanced to second on Barger’s center-field single.
With Loperpido’s strong drive to first base, they moved up to second and third respectively.
After Guerrero intentionally walked to load the bases, Tyler Anderson (10-12) walked Kirk to score the game’s first run.
Anderson pitched five innings in front of 37,036 at Rogers Centre, allowing four hits, four walks, three strikeouts and two runs.
Tommy Nance replaced Gausman in the eighth and allowed a solo home run to left field to former Blue Jays infielder Brandon Drury.
Toronto scored its last two runs in the eighth on RBIs from Loperpido and Guerrero.
ON DECK — The Blue Jays begin a four-game doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday.
Neither team has named a starting pitcher for Game 1, which is a make-up game for the June 26 game that was suspended due to inclement weather. The game resumes in the top of the second inning with one out and a Blue Jays runner on first base.
Former Toronto catcher Danny Jansen was scheduled to be out when the game was suspended. He was traded to Boston last month and will play for the Red Sox, making history as the first player to play for two teams in the same game.
In the nightcap, Toronto’s Jose Berrios (12-9) is expected to start against Canadian right-hander Nick Pivetta (5-8).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
