Upton hit his 20th homer, a two-run drive in the second off Eduardo Rodruguez (2-7).
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With his 535th career home run, Ortiz moved past Jimmie Foxx into sole possession of 18th place on baseball’s career list. He also increased his season RBI total to 110, the most by a player age 40 or above since Dave Winfield had 108 for Toronto in 1992.
The Blue Jays still had some firepower left, as Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the inning – his second home run of the game – to left that nearly made the fifth deck, making it 8-6 for the home side. The Cubs outslugged Houston in interleague play, for their “best in the majors” 91st win of the season.
Jason Grilli (6-5) got the win and Jose Bautista hit a two-run shot for the Blue Jays (79-64), who have had a rough go of things this month. Craig Kimbrel, the ninth Boston pitcher, worked the ninth for his 25th save.
As for the Blue Jays, they’re 5-1 in their last six home games and 2-4 in their last six against the American League East. Toronto is also 2-4 in their last six overall and 1-4 in their last five against a right-handed starter.
And the Boston Red Sox keep piling up victories.
The Blue Jays lost two of three games at Tropicana Field Sept. 2-4. The Tigers, Yankees, Astros, Mariners and Royals are all within four games, too, so the Jays need to start winning some games if they want to play into October.
But a combination of power-hitting and a strong relief corps anchored by an elite closer (Zach Britton) have the O’s within striking distance of the first-place Red Sox here in September. He has been on the DL since August 12 with a right shoulder rotator cuff strain. Rick Porcello, Drew Pomeranz and David Price are Boston’s big-game pitchers, but even Price and Pomeranz have struggled at times this season.
Toronto stopped a four-game losing streak and avoided matching its longest skid this season. After Logan Forsythe hit a leadoff single in the Rays’ first inning to extend his hitting streak to five games, Liriano retired the next 14 batters before he walked Souza with two outs in the fifth. In his six starts since August 6 and surrounding his pseudo-demotion for 10 days to Class-A Dunedin, Sanchez is 2-1 with a 5.08 ERA, with 33 hits, 14 walks and 22 strikeouts in 332/3 innings.
Kansas City’s Ian Kennedy and three relievers combined to shutout the Chicago White Sox in a 2-0 victory. Carrera homered on the right-hander’s first pitch.
Hernandez (11-5) allowed six hits, struck out two and walked one while improving to 12-3 at the 50-year-old Coliseum.
Left-hander Rich Hill was removed after pitching seven ideal innings as Los Angeles held Miami to two hits. Ramirez replied in the next inning, with his homer making it 8-7.
McHugh (10-10) won his third straight decision, allowing one run and two hits.
“It was amusing, I was in line watching the home run (on a TV), but the way the camera followed the home run it didn’t really show (where it landed), it showed him turning around the bases”, Rob Kerr recalled.
Whats frustrating about the Jays 2-and-7 September and three straight series defeats is how they have not performed to expectations. Noe Ramirez (0.1 innings), Robbie Ross Jr. Despite getting little help from his teammates, causing his actual team to lose, Beltre made fantasy owners happy and the Rangers remain ahead in the AL West. His 28 homers this season are just one homer shy of his career total of 29 in 343 games spanning 1,111 at-bats. Andrew Bailey pitched a ideal ninth to earn his third save.
The Cardinals absorbed a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee on Ryan Braun’s solo homer off Kevin Siegrist in the top of the ninth.
“It was one of those games that was back and forth, it was really a slugfest”.
Marte had three hits for Seattle, and Mike Zunino homered and doubled.
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“I’m not the one who called the meeting”, Martin said.
