The Padres owed Upton $16.45 million in 2017 but are on a run of unloading hefty contracts, a shift that began in the offseason when they traded closer Craig Kimbrel to the Boston Red Sox and included in-season deals involving right-hander James Shields and left-hander Drew Pomeranz. The veteran knuckleballer is 7-12 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 131 1/3 innings this season. It’s the longest run since the 2002 Texas Rangers set a major league record by homering in 27 straight. Jays starter Marcus Stroman gave up four runs on seven hits through 6.2 innings for a no decision with Jess Chavez allowing two in the 9th only to get the win wen Toronto scored three in the bottom of the 12th to make him the victor. “I’d say it was probably three, four, five feet (outside of the foul pole), something like that”. “That’s just kind of how it’s been since I’ve been here. I’ve made some great relationships with a lot of guys and there’ll be lasting friendships for a lifetime”. Travis walked, took second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a groundout by Ezequiel Carrera and scored on Darwin Barney’s sacrifice fly to left.
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“We’re looking at what we’re going to do in the future”, Padres manager Andy Green said. He pitched poorly in rookie ball in 2014 (7.11 ERA, 13/12 K/BB in 19 innings) but improved in ’15 (4.68 ERA, 37/10 K/BB in 42 innings) and took another step forward this spring. Travis then had a 14-pitch at-bat highlighted by a well-hit ball to left field that just went foul, ending with a walk to load the bases.
Upton couldn’t join Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins for an early afternoon press conference because he was at the nearest border crossing being cleared to re-enter Canada. A Jose Bautista walk drove in Toronto’s first run of the inning, while Josh Donaldson grounded into a fielder’s choice to tie the game again.
With Edwin Encarnacion batting, a pitch bounced away from catcher Derek Norris, and Travis slid in headfirst just ahead of the tag as his teammates stormed out of the dugout to celebrate.
“It was about this time past year that I took off and felt good”, said Dickey, who had five strikeouts over his 5 2/3 innings of work. “I was praying for in the dirt”.
The Blue Jays tied the game in the seventh inning, as San Diego reliever Brad Hand walked two batters on four pitches and threw two wild pitches, allowing Martin to eventually score.
“Unbelievable, especially coming from one of the younger guys”, Jays starter Marcus Stroman said. He hit into a fielder’s choice. Toronto traded right-hander Drew Storen to Seattle for Benoit on Tuesday night. As a member of the Blue Jays, he requires a work visa to enter Canada.
Padres: Class-A RHP Chris Paddack, acquired from Miami in last month’s trade for Fernando Rodney, has been sidelined indefinitely with a strained forearm. Through the first three batters, it looked like the Blue Jays were in store for a very loud evening.
The Padres are at Rogers Centre for a three-game series with the Blue Jays but it wasn’t as easy for Upton as crossing the field to change dugouts. After retiring the first eight batters he faced, reliever Jesse Chavez (1-2), the eventual victor, allowed a double to Wil Myers and a home run to Matt Kemp.
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Blue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey (7-11, 4.44) will start on three days’ rest, with RHP Marco Estrada getting pushed back to Friday. Estrada (back) was on the disabled list from July 3 to July 21.
