Brandon Valenzuela hit a three-run homer to cap a seven-run fifth inning Saturday and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 14-1.
Valenzuela had four hits and Ernie Clement recorded his second career five-hit game, including a solo homer as Toronto rapped out 20 hits to take their second in a row in the three-game series. Jesus Sanchez added a solo homer as Toronto padded statistics against infielder Adam Frazier, who pitched a four-run eighth for the Angels, who have lost four of five to Toronto this season.
Mason Fluharty (2-0) pitched a perfect fifth to pick up the win.
The Angels threatened in the second against Trey Yesavage. Jorge Soler led off with a double to the top of the center field wall. He took third on Yoan Moncada’s ome-out single to right. The inning ended when Addison Barger threw Soler out of the plate on Vaughn Grissom’s flyout to right.
Barger (sprained ankle) was reinstated from the injured list Saturday with Yohendrick Piñango optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Yesavage lasted four innings, allowing no runs and four hits with six strikeouts.
Toronto scored once in their fourth against Jack Kochanowicz (2-2). Sanchez was hit by a pitch followed by singles from Daulton Varsho and Clement to load the bases with no outs. Andres Gimenez hit a sacrifice fly to the left-field corner.
Toronto scored four more in the fifth against the sloppy Angels. Barger walked and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and Kazuma Okamoto flared an RBI single to left. Sanchez blooped an RBI single that dropped among three fielders down the left-field line. Another run scored when Kochanowicz threw wildly to first on Varsho’s comebacker. Clement grounded an RBI single to left to make it 5-0. Mitch Farris replaced Kochanowicz and allowed Valenzuela’s one-out three-run homer to left.
Kochanowicz allowed seven runs (six earned), nine hits and two walks with no strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Clement led off the seventh with a homer to left against Farris. Guerrero added an RBI single,
Pinch hitter Frazier stroked an RBI double to right against Tyler Rogers in the eighth to give the Angels their first run of the series.
Angels pinch hitter Omar Martinez picked up his first major league hit in the ninth with a single against Tommy Nance.
–Field Level Media
