A two-run homer by Ernie Clement highlighted a five-run second inning as the Toronto Blue Jays opened a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-3 victory Thursday.
For Clement, it was his third straight game with a home run. The Blue Jays also had at least one long ball in an 11e game in a row, their longest streak of the kind since 12 straight games, from August 28 to September 9, 2021.
The win was also the fourth straight for the Blue Jays (60-68) against the Angels (54-74) in eight days after John Schneider’s squad swept Anaheim last week.
After three straight outs in the first inning, the Blue Jays hit five straight hits in the top of the second in front of 25,900 fans at Rogers Centre.
Spencer Horwitz has been hitting balls into the stands in the Blue Jays’ last two games, and he followed that up with a double to lead off the second. He then scored on a double by Alejandro Kirk. Kirk himself got home on a single by Will Wagner.
Wagner was on the trail when Clement homered. The third baseman has a .333 batting average in his last 25 games with four doubles, a triple, six home runs and 18 RBIs.
Newcomer Joey Loperfido continued his team’s momentum in the second with a triple to right field. He scored when George Springer grounded to third base.
Loperfido hit the ball safely twice in three at-bats and added a single in the seventh. Kirk had two doubles.
Both teams turned to the bullpen. For the Blue Jays, Ryan Burr pitched just one inning before giving way to Ryan Yarbrough (5-2).
Yarbrough went scoreless in five innings, allowing three hits on 60 pitches. Then Tommy Nance gave up a three-run homer to Niko Kavadas in the ninth inning.
The Angels’ first two pitchers, Brock Burke (1-1) and Mike Baumann, were given three and two runs, respectively.