2 weeks Ago By Field Level Media
Pinch hitter Luis Garcia Jr. hit a three-run home run in a four-run seventh and the Washington Nationals defeated the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 9-3 Friday night. Beginning a five-game homestand, the Nationals overcame a 3-0 deficit to take the opener of a three-game series.
The Blue Jays, who began a five-game road trip, have lost three games in a row and eight of their last 10. Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi allowed one run, six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings. Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin gave up three runs, six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six innings.
Toronto scored three runs in the second. Danny Jansen led off with a walk and moved to third on Davis Schneider's double, and both scored on Daulton Varsho's double to right. Varsho held second on a single to right by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
After Ernie Clement sacrificed the runners to second and third, George Springer hit a sacrifice fly. Washington, which has won six of its last eight games, scored once in the third. Jacob Young led off with a double and scored on a single to right by CJ Abrams.
Jacob Barnes (2-0) replaced Corbin and pitched around an error in the seventh. Erik Swanson (0-2) replaced Kikuchi in the seventh. He allowed a leadoff walk to Ildemar Vargas and a single to Riley Adams followed by Garcia's second homer of the season, a blast to center.
Tim Mayza replaced Swanson and gave up a single to Jesse Winker and uncorked a wild pitch. Nick Senzel hit a one-out.
