In the final game of a 10-game road trip, the Toronto Blue Jays had an epic comeback led by veterans Matt Chapman and Kevin Kiermaier. The duo produced a combined 10 RBIs to lead the Jays to a 12-11 win in extra innings over the Los Angeles Angels.

After a near-flawless outing in his first start against the Kansas City Royals, Yusei Kikuchi had some pros and cons in his second, giving up six runs on 99 pitches with eight strikeouts over 4.1 innings. The Blue Jays faced a six-run deficit entering the top of the sixth when Chapman launched a grand slam to bring the game within two, followed by a Kiermaier triple, knotting the game at six through six.

The superb offensive display from Chapman and Kiermaier did not stop there. Chapman drove in Bo Bichette in the top of the seventh to make it 7-6 Blue Jays, followed by a Kiermaier single into left field, giving the Jays a 10-6 lead through seven.

Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano entered the game for the save in the bottom of the ninth, but the Angels rallied back from the bats of 2021 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Hunter Renfroe to tie the game up at 10-10.

Kiermaier put the Jays ahead with a double in the top of the tenth, followed by a George Springer single to score Kiermaier from second, giving the Jays a 12-10 lead entering the bottom half. The Angels loaded the bases for Ohtani for two outs, but their (second) comeback came up short, grounding out to end the ball game.

Romano was credited with the win, while reliever Tim Mayza recorded his fourth career save.

“I love we pulled out of it with a win and ended the road trip on a high note,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider in a post-game press conference.

The Blue Jays have had an excellent start to the 2023 campaign, going 6-4 over their first 10 games, leading the MLB in hits (106). The team will have an off day on Monday, April 10, before their home opener against the Detroit Tigers at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday, April 11.

https://bluebirdtalk.wordpress.com/2023/04/07/3-take-aways-from-the-toronto-blue-jays-road-trip/

They will play six games at the Rogers Centre before they leave on another tough road trip, facing the 2022 World Series champions, Houston Astros, and AL East rivals New York Yankees.