Blue Jays’ Hernandez leads crew to win over Cubs in return

TORONTO – The ache for Teoscar Hernandez, simply beneath his left ankle bone and into the arch of his foot, is worst when he runs or shortly modifications instructions. He did each whereas chasing down Franmil Reyes’ 95.2-m.p.h. drive to the right-field nook, making a sliding catch that each ended the fourth inning and saved a minimum of one run, adopted by an extended uncomfortable run again to the Toronto Blue Jays dugout, the place his teammates mobbed him in appreciation.

On the plate, his discomfort is much much less intense, and he averted that complete operating factor a few innings later by launching his nineteenth homer of the season, a decisive three-run drive, which allowed him to take a a lot much less taxing trot across the bases.

In these methods, Hernandez’s impression in his return to the lineup was throughout a 5-3 victory Tuesday over the Chicago Cubs, through which the Blue Jays overcame 5 innings of one-run ball by Marcus Stroman and continued to rebound from a dreadful weekend towards the Los Angeles Angels.

The important thing moments have been considerably redemptive for Hernandez, who after fouling a ball off his left foot Friday night time, having carried out it Aug. 20 towards the New York Yankees as effectively, regarded off throughout a defensive misplay later that sport and on a Sunday baserunning blip.

He sat throughout Monday night time’s tension-easing, 5-4, 11-inning comeback win, and after taking elective batting follow Tuesday, when he and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., every took a couple of explosive rips with an aluminum bat for enjoyable, was adamant that he’d discover a strategy to contribute.

“For me, now that I’ve this challenge in my ankle, I’m going to provide the whole lot I’ve received and preserve enjoying arduous,” stated Hernandez. “If I make errors, it’s not going to cease me. I’ll preserve going on the market and do my finest to assist the crew.”

He did that in an enormous approach on one other night time that had the makings of a irritating ending.

Kevin Gausman was his normal dominant self over six innings with 9 strikeouts, however was victimized by solo pictures from Willson Contreras within the fourth and Christopher Morel within the sixth.

The offence, in the meantime, sputtered after loading the bases with two out within the first and developing empty on a Hernandez fielder’s alternative towards Stroman, the primary of 10 straight batters he sat down.

Down 1-0, the Blue Jays didn’t discover a breakthrough till the fifth, when Danny Jansen reached on successful by pitch, superior to second on a handed ball and after a George Springer stroll, got here round on a Guerrero RBI single up the center.

Stroman, pitching in Toronto for the primary time since his 2019 deadline commerce to the New York Mets, received Lourdes Gurriel Jr., on a groundout to restrict the harm there and cap a stable night time of labor.

After the Cubs went up 2-1, the Blue Jays took management within the backside half, when Bo Bichette reached on successful by pitch, reliever Brendon Little slipped making an attempt to area Matt Chapman’s little chopper by dwelling for a base hit after which served up Hernandez’s rocket to proper.

The golf equipment traded runs within the seventh – Morel hit an RBI double, Guerrero ripped his twenty seventh homer of the season – and the Blue Jays assured themselves a collection victory towards an opponent they should maintain, a activity that may be simpler stated than carried out.

“We now have to manage what we will management,” stated Hernandez. “On the finish of the day, if we win, it is good. But when we lose, we simply should throw that one within the trash and include a greater optimism the subsequent day. Higher focus. Extra vitality. Attempt to do issues otherwise. Put that one prior to now and preserve going.”