Blown bunt costs Jays
Atlanta blows open game, wins 9-5, after Toronto misses chance to tie
TORONTO — Despite a pair of doubles earlier in the game, Devon Travis was unable to execute when the Blue Jays needed him the most on Tuesday.
Travis was signalled to bunt with two on, no outs and Toronto trailing 6-5 in the eighth inning, but was eventually struck out by Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino. Darwin Barney followed by lining into an inningending double play.
Atlanta added three runs in the ninth to defeat the Blue Jays 9-5.
“It’s nice to walk up to the plate with two doubles or two hits — whatever the case may be,” said Travis, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. “When you’re told to do a job though, especially bunting, that’s important for this team, it wins games. I’ve got to do my job — it’s that simple.”
Toronto manager John Gibbons said the rationale behind the move was to get the runners over and create a better scoring opportunity.
“Well we’re down a run, want to get the guy to third base, contact, tying run, you get a big hit, you take the lead,” said Gibbons.
Dansby Swanson hit a go-ahead home run off Danny Barnes (0-1) in the seventh inning to help the Braves (15-21) earn their fourth win in five games. Jose Ramirez (2-1) allowed an earned run on two hits over 1 2/3 innings for the win.
Toronto (17-23) erased a 5-3 deficit in the sixth on an RBI single from Barney and a weak grounder from Ezequiel Carrera, which scored Travis. The Blue Jays have dropped back-to-back games after having their season-high fivegame winning streak snapped in Monday’s loss.
Matt Kemp added to the Braves lead in the ninth with a two-run double off Roberto Osuna. Nick Markakis followed with an RBI single, stretching Atlanta’s lead to 9-5.
Freddie Freeman gave the Braves a 5-2 lead in the fifth, taking Marco Estrada’s offering over the wall in centre field for a two-run shot and his 14th home run of the season.
“We’ve been playing a lot better baseball the last few games. Hopefully we can continue that at home,” said Freeman. “We’ve been swinging the bats well and the pitching is coming around. We’re all starting to play together finally.”
The two teams head to Atlanta today for a quick two-game series.
Mariners send Cano to DL
SEATTLE (AP) — Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano has been placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a quadriceps strain, the latest Seattle player to be sidelined by injury.
Seattle placed Cano on the disabled list Tuesday after he missed the previous five games. Cano underwent an MRI that confirmed the strain so the Mariners decided to give him a few extra days of rest.
Cano is the ninth Seattle player to land on the disabled list since the start of the regular season and sixth since April 26. Cano is hitting .296 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 34 games.