Estrada shows top form for Jays in win
Toronto hurler gets best of Nationals’ Scherzer in pitcher’s duel while Travis homers again
TORONTO — As a pitcher, Marco Estrada isn’t exactly a flame thrower. But he certainly burned the Washington Nationals on Saturday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.
Estrada threw 6.2 innings of three-hit, no-run baseball while second baseman Devon Travis smacked his second home run in as many days at the Jays blanked the Nationals 2-0. It was Toronto’s second straight win over their National League visitors.
Travis smashed a slider that Nationals ace Max Scherzer left up in the zone, depositing it over the wall in left to put Toronto ahead 2-0. The fifth-inning bomb also brought home Luke Maile, who got on base after being hit in the arm by Scherzer.
Travis has been dynamite since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on May 22. He has gone 18-for-54 (.333) with a double, triple, three homers and eight RBI over his last 18 games. The personable second baseman couldn’t get on a roll earlier this season and was demoted to Buffalo — an experience he does not want to go through again. If he keeps playing like he has lately, he won’t go through it again.
“The demotion sucked, but I guess it’s a part of the game. Just maybe used it as a little bit of fire,” said Travis. “I wouldn’t say I’m really trying to prove anything (since I got back). That’s when you go out there and maybe do things that are out of character. I try tokeepthegamesimple.Itry to have fun. I try to come here every single day and help my team win. I try to leave it at that.”
Scherzer and Estrada engaged in an intense pitcher’s duel, with the Nationals’ right-hander blinking first in the fifth with Travis’ bomb. Travis admitted it was nice getting a big knock against an ace like Scherzer, a former teammate.
“I was drafted by the (Detroit) Tigers so my first big league camp, Scherzer was still with the Tigers,” the West Palm Beach. Fla. native said. “I got to face him a little bit on the back field. He’s a guy that when you go to sleep at night, and you know you’re facing Max Scherzer the next day, your heart starts to beat a little bit already. So, you know you’re up for a big challenge. He’s the best in the game. And I’m just so thankful I was able to contribute today.”
Scherzer came into Saturday’s game with the MLB lead in strikeouts (142) and a 10-2 record. The home run by Travis was the first homer Scherzer has given up to a right-handed hitter since Giancarlo Stanton on Aug. 7, 2017.
Estrada was pulled with two out and two on in the seventh and received a standing ovation from the 36,044 at Rogers Centre. Danny Barnes came in on relief and got Wilmer Difo to ground out to Justin Smoak at first, preserving the lead.
Estrada gave up a season-best three hits, walked two and struck out four, throwing 109 pitches, by far his best performance of the season.
“It’s always nice to hear the fans behind you,” said Estrada. “We’re all working really hard to play really well every day. We frustrate some of these fans because we’re not winning, but we’ve put together some pretty good games lately and it’s just nice to see they have our back. They’re showing up and I know the more we win, the more we’re going to see of that. But we need it, we need our fans, we need our fans behind us. I feel like they’re always behind me no matter what happens and it’s a really nice feeling being able to pitch here for them.”
Nationals shortstop Trea Turner hit a double with two out in the sixth. Before that, Estrada had retired 12 consecutive batters. Scherzer lasted six innings, giving up the two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out 10.
Toronto’s Yangervis Solarte made two fine defensive plays at third in the third inning, catching a rocket hit by Pedro Severino and then he dived to his right to snare a Turner ground ball and threw the Washington shortstop out from his knees.
Tyler Clippard pitched the ninth for Toronto to pick up his third save.
I try to have fun. I try to come here every single day and help my team win.” DevonTravis