Missed bunt in eighth costly for Jays
ATLANTA 9, TORONTO 5
Despite a pair of doubles earlier in the game, Devon Travis was unable to execute when the Toronto 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 Atlanta reliever Arodys Vizcaino. Darwin Barney followed by lining into an inning-ending double play.
The Braves added three runs in the ninth to defeat the Blue Jays, 9-5, in interleague baseball action.
“It’s nice to walk up to the plate with two doubles or two hits — whatever the case may be,” said Travis, who finished two for four 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 that the rationale behind the move was to get the runners over a base and create a better scoring opportunity.
“Well we’re down a run, want to get the guy to third base, contact, trying 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 five-game 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 up 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.