Giants blank Blue Jays for 13th win of 15 games
Thairo Estrada #39 of the San Francisco Giants after hitting a two-RBI double during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center on June 27, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.Mark Blinch/Getty Images
2023.06.27 – Thairo Estrada had a two-run double and scored a run, Alex Wood and three relievers combined on an eight-hitter and the San Francisco Giants beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 on Tuesday night for their 13th win in 15 games.
The Giants are 10-0 on the road in June.
After opener Ryan Walker pitched the first, Wood (3-2) followed with five-plus innings, allowing five hits. He walked none and struck out seven.
Wood bounced back after giving up six runs in his previous start, a 10-0 loss to San Diego.
“We’re playing really good baseball right now and I felt really good tonight,” Wood said. “My stuff was really good. Definitely something to build on.”
Tyler Rogers struck out four of the five batters he retired and Camilo Doval got the final four outs for his 23rd save in 25 chances. Doval struck out the side in the ninth of San Francisco’s seventh shutout.
“When we can all work together like that and be on our A-game, we’re unstoppable,” Walker said. “It’s really fun to see everybody be on their A-game and pick up everybody.”
Estrada singled and scored in the fifth inning and doubled in two off right-hander Erik Swanson in the ninth. Estrada finished 2 for 4.
Toronto struck out a season-high 17 times, went 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and was blanked for the second time this season. The Blue Jays lost 11-0 at Miami last Monday night.
2023.06.27 (SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays) See Full Highlights
Toronto Blue Jays starting first baseman Brandon Belt during the eight inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Toronto on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press via AP)
2023.06.27 (SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays) See Full Highlights
2023.06.27 (SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays) See Full Highlights
“We had our chances and they pitched well and got out of those jams,” Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman said.
Gausman (7-4) allowed one run and three hits in six innings, losing for the first time since May 4 at Boston. The right-hander had won five straight decisions.
Gausman retired the first 11 batters in order, fanning eight, before J.D. Davis walked on a 3-2 pitch in the fourth. Michael Conforto grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
San Francisco got its first hit in the fifth when Estrada grounded a one-out single through the right side. Estrada stole second and advanced on Gausman’s balk before scoring on Patrick Bailey’s double.
Gausman walked one and struck out 12, one shy of matching his career-best total. It’s the major league-leading seventh time in 17 starts that he’s struck out 10 or more. Gausman leads the AL with 139 strikeouts this season.
“I thought he was just outstanding,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Walker made his fourth start in the past eight games and second in three. George Springer led off with a double and Bo Bichette singled, but Walker struck out the next three.
“I think he (Walker) pitched even better than it looked,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.
Daulton Varsho chased Wood when he doubled to begin the seventh but Rogers retired the next three batters, striking out the final two.
2023.06.27 – SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays (NBC Sports pre-game)
Thairo Estrada #39 of the San Francisco Giants tags out a runner against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center on June 27, 2023 in Toronto, Canada.Mark Blinch/Getty Images
2023.06.27 – SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays (NBC Sports pre-game)
2023.06.27 – SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays (NBC Sports pre-game)
Rogers struck out Springer and Bichette to begin the eighth but left after former Giants Brandon Belt doubled. Doval came on and got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to fly out.
MILESTONE K
Gausman reached 1,500 career strikeouts when he fanned LaMonte Wade Jr. to begin the fourth. Gausman is the 21st active pitcher to record at least 1,500 strikeouts.
Ex-Giant Brandon Belt
Belt had not faced the San Francisco Giants before this week, and the team’s longtime first baseman wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but he figured it would be different.
“It’s definitely weird,” he said. “but I’m not sure it’s as weird now as it’s going to be when we’re out on the field. Baseball’s strange sometimes.”
Belt is unfamiliar with Tuesday’s opener, rookie reliever Walker — though he has seen him on video and thinks his stuff looks nasty. Of course, he knows Wednesday’s starter, Logan Webb, very well.
“It’s going to be tough,” Belt said. “I mean, he’s a good pitcher. I think everybody that’s watched him come up is proud of the way he’s developed, and you know, he’s the leader of the staff. It’s going to be cool to face old friends — I hope I hit homers off him and everyone else.”
Belt, one of the funniest players in the majors, then launched into his expected comedy routine, taking mock shots at his former teammates.
Told that ex-Giants third baseman Evan Longoria had homered off Webb on Friday, Belt said, “Well, I can’t let Longo down. I’ve got to keep that going. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, I just want to embarrass him and his whole family.”
2023.06.27 – SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays (Locked On post game)
San Francisco Giants starting catcher Patric Bailey, right congratulates Giants closer Camilo Doval, left after the win against the Toronto Blue Jays of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, June 27, 2023. (Andrew Lahodynskyj/The Canadian Press via AP)
2023.06.27 – SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays (Locked On post game)
2023.06.27 – SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays (Locked On post game)
Facing closer Doval? Maybe not so much. “That’s probably not going to be that fun,” Belt said. “I like for the fastballs to be under 95, and even then, it’s pretty iffy.”
MANOAH STRUGGLES
Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah allowed 11 runs in 2 2/3 innings in a rookie-level Florida Complex League game Tuesday, his first since being demoted earlier this month.
Manoah allowed 10 hits, including two homers, against a lineup composed mostly of players 17 to 19 years old. An AL All-Star and Cy Young finalist last season, Manoah went 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA in 13 starts before being sent down June 6.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: INF Wilmer Flores was activated off the 10-day injured list. Flores hasn’t played since fouling a ball off his left foot June 16.
Blue Jays: C Tyler Heineman was available off the bench Tuesday after leaving Sunday’s game because of soreness in his left side.
UP NEXT
RHP Logan Webb (7-6, 3.16) starts for the Giants Wednesday night. The Blue Jays had not named a starter.
2023.06.28 (SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays) See Full Highlights
2023.06.28 (SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays) See Full Highlights
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2023.06.29 (SF Giants @ Toronto Blue Jays) See Full Highlights
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