The Toronto Blue Jays are back to .500.
On Friday evening, the Jays started a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians, defeating them 5-3 to move to 16-16 this season. Moreover, the win expands their win streak to three games. Let’s take a look at what happened in this game!
The Guardians opened the scoring in the top of the second, as Carlos Santana hit a solo home run to give the Guardians a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, the Blue Jays had an answer, as Alejandro Kirk hit a bases-loaded single to score Anthony Santander and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., giving the Jays a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Canadian catcher Bo Naylor hit his fifth home run of the season to tie the game up at two. The Jays regained the lead as George Springer hit a solo home run, his third of the season.
Starting May HOT 🔥 #SpringerDinger pic.twitter.com/5d4ZoYHKK4
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 3, 2025
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Again, the Guardians tied the game thanks to Santana’s RBI single in the top of the sixth, knocking Chris Bassitt out of the game and tying it at three. The big moment of the game came in the bottom of the eighth, though, as Nathan Lukes was batting with runners on second and third with two outs. He shot a line drive to the outfield, giving the Jays a 5-3 lead.
🚨 IN PLAY, RUN(S) 🚨 pic.twitter.com/WVtcRFnAAf
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 3, 2025
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Takeaways…
The Blue Jays have been getting some clutch hitting in the past three games. On Wednesday, Anthony Santander hit a massive three-run shot to tie the game, before Alejandro Kirk drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th. On Thursday, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run home run of his own, giving the Jays a 4-2 lead. Tonight, Lukes hit a two-RBI single to give the Jays the win. This is what they need to do.
Kirk also had a clutch hit in this game, driving in two runs in the bottom of the third, giving the Jays a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, he hit a single to move George Springer to third base. Overall, he went 3-4 with 2 RBI.
George Springer also had a great game, going 1-1 by hitting a home run, walking twice, and reaching on catcher’s interference. The re-emergance of Springer this year has been totally unexpected and very much needed.
Andrés Giménez had a good game against his former team, hitting two singles in four at-bats to raise his batting average to .177. Guerrero Jr. also had a two-hit game to bring his batting average to .275.
As for pitching, it wasn’t a bad start for Chris Bassitt, as he pitched five and one-third innings with three earned runs allowed and four strikeouts. His season ERA has risen to 2.95.
Chad Green pitched a clean inning, Brendon Little allowed a hit in his inning and two-thirds, and Jeff Hoffman picked up his seventh save of the season.
The Jays have a chance to win their second consecutive series on Saturday, as Kevin Gausman is set to take the mound at 3:07 PM ET.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.