August 18, 2024; CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperpido (9) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs in the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports Bowden Francis allowed just three hits over seven innings against the Chicago Cubs, and Joey Loperpido’s home run was crucial in giving the Toronto Blue Jays a 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon.
Loperpido’s third home run of the season came in the second inning off Cubs starter Shota Imanaga and was estimated at 409 feet, without the aid of a 15 mph wind blowing from left field to right.
Francis (6-3) struck out seven and walked no batters for his second straight win. He appeared to catch a break in the third inning when a gust of wind prevented a fly ball to left-center from clearing the fence by Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya.
Toronto reliever Ryan Burr retired the Cubs’ first two batters in the eighth, and after he walked, Genesis Cabrera came on and struck out pinch hitter Isaac Parade.
Chicago’s Hector Neris got out of trouble with two outs and one out in the top of the ninth, and the Cubs threatened against Chad Green in the bottom. Cody Bellinger singled with one out and stole second with two outs. But Green retired Dansby Swanson to secure his 13th save.
The first two hits Francis allowed came with one out in the fourth inning, a checked swing grounder by Michael Bush and a bloop single to center by Seiya Suzuki.
Francis popped out Bellinger, who should have been removed from the inning on a short-grounder by Niko Horner, but Ernie Clement fumbled the ball trying to throw to second for a force out. Francis, who had a career-high eight strikeouts in his previous start, got Swanson.
Imanaga (9-3) allowed just one run on four hits and a walk. He struck out six but was taken out in the top of the sixth after throwing 97 pitches, 69 strikes. It was his first loss since June 21.
Francis was replaced after seven innings, matching his career high, which he also recorded in his previous start. He threw 71 of his 95 pitches for strikes, also a career high.
The Blue Jays got two outs in the eighth against reliever Ethan Roberts when Alijandro Kirk and Spencer Horwitz singled, but Roberts sent Addison Barger out.
George Springer, Loperfido and Kirk each had two of Toronto’s eight hits. Hoerner doubled for the Cubs in the seventh, and the Cubs finished with four hits.
–Field level media
