This is the best the Toronto Blue Jays have looked all season.
On Sunday afternoon, the Blue Jays defeated the Athletics 8-4 to bring their winning streak to five. Moreover, the Jays now have a 31-28 record. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one!
In the top of the first, the Athletics opened the scoring as Tyler Soderstrom grounded out to first baseman Ernie Clement to drive in Canadian Lawrence Butler. In the top of the fifth, Luis Urias hit a two-run double, giving the Athletics a 3-0 lead.
The Jays answered back in the bottom of the fifth, as George Springer hit an RBI single to bring the Jays to within one. Alejandro Kirk was the next batter up, hitting a two-out double to drive in another run to give the Jays runners on second and third. Well, that would’ve been the case if Springer hadn’t been tagged out at third base. Weird play.
After the Athletics’ challenge, Schuemann did indeed catch Springer slippin’ 😅 pic.twitter.com/kl6oePjTI8
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 1, 2025
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In the top of the eighth, Jacob Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to score the Athletics’ fourth run, giving them a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the eighth. Springer reached thanks to catcher’s interference, and then Kirk hit a single. Next up was Addison Barger, who hit his third home run in as many games to give the Jays a 5-4 lead.
When Addison Barger hits a baseball…
LOOK. OUT. pic.twitter.com/Z2ZyTdTjtw
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 1, 2025
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They didn’t stop there, though. After an Ernie Clement double, a Davis Schneider walk, and an Athletic error, the Jays had runners on the corners with no out. Nathan Lukes hit a sacrifice fly to score a run, then Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a double that gave the Jays an 8-4 lead.
Takeaways…
Sunday’s game was the fifth consecutive win for the Jays, the largest winning streak they’ve had all season. They’re now also three games over .500, the first time they’ve been at that mark since April 19 after an 8-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Addison Barger is the Blue Jays’ starting third baseman until he proves otherwise. He hit a home run in his third consecutive game, and he’s now slashing .267/.333/.483 with five home runs in 132 plate appearances for a 129 wRC+.
In total, the Jays had 13 hits in this game, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement all having two-hit games. All nine starters had a hit in this game, and the Jays were 5-10 with runners in scoring position. Great stuff.
For the first time this season, Erik Swanson appeared in a big league game, giving up an earned run and striking out a batter in an inning pitched. Still, he managed to pick up the win.
Kevin Gausman made the start, going four and two-thirds innings with three earned runs allowed and seven strikeouts. Mason Fluharty pitched a scoreless inning and a third with two strikeouts, and Chad Green pitched a scoreless inning. It wasn’t a save opportunity, but Jeff Hoffman had a much better game, striking out two in his inning of work.
The Blue Jays look to keep their momentum going as they host the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series starting Tuesday. Monday’s off-day is their first off-day since May 12. Bowden Francis is expected to start the game for the Jays.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. They can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.