Blue Jays' Hicks Lets Cubs Rally In 9th Inning
The Blue Jays brought in Jordan Hicks at the trade deadline to lock things down in leverage spots. Instead, the fireballing right-hander stumbled Saturday by allowing two doubles in the ninth, handing the Cubs a 5-4 victory.
Hicks entered with the score tied and the meat of Chicago’s order due up. Cody Bellinger wasted no time, lacing a lead-off double down the right-field line. Two batters later, Christopher Morel picked up a two-bagger of his own, scoring Bellinger for the game-deciding tally.
Toronto's offense matched Chicago's bats nearly tit for tat, but the Jays' pitching faltered in key moments.
Before Hicks' rough inning, Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt had a perplexing outing of his own. He mowed through Chicago’s order for most of the afternoon but undid all his good work with a bumpy fourth inning.
The frame began with a lead-off double, a walk, and a run-scoring single. Jays pitching coach Pete Walker trotted out for a mound visit, but his words of wisdom didn’t help, as Bassitt immediately surrendered a no-doubt three-run blast to Dansby Swanson.
The 34-year-old closed his day with six innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Cubs starter Justin Steele rolled through the first part of the Blue Jays’ lineup until nine-stick Daulton Varsho dug the club out of its funk. His line-drive double – which missed being a homer by a few feet – set up Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out single a couple batters later.
In a game starved of action, Santiago Espinal roused the crowd in the third inning. The Jays shortstop roved toward second base, snagged the bounding grounder, spun and fired to first base for a slick first out.
After Whit Merrifield hit his 11th homer of the season – a two-run blast – to bring the score within one, Espinal came clutch again. With two on and two out in the sixth, the Blue Jays utility guy smacked a ground-rule double to center, plating Davis Schneider from second. Varsho flew out to end the inning.
Blue Jays Honor Bautista With Pre-Game Ceremony
Blue Jays legend José Bautista signed a one-day contract with Toronto Friday and officially announced his retirement from professional baseball. The Jays took it a step further Saturday, honoring Bautista with a detailed pre-game ceremony before unveiling his place in the club’s Level of Excellence.
Many of Bautista’s former coaches and teammates attended Rogers Centre to show support for the 42-year-old. Read more on Bautista’s emotional tribute here.
