MIAMI – – The sticks of the Toronto Blue Jays came to life as soon as they got the chance to face someone other than Sandy Alcantara.
Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled up on back-to-back shots against reliever Yimi García to break a ninth inning tie, and Toronto beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Tuesday night.
The hits came with one. García (3-6) came into the game after Alcantara thwarted the Blue Jays throwing just 86 pitches in eight innings before leaving for a pinched hitter.
“He was really good,” said Blue Jays coach John Schneider, who led the team while manager Charlie Montoyo was serving a one-game suspension. “Seeing what our hitters were saying, we were happy to get him out of there, obviously. It was tonight. It worked for us.
With the score 1 overall, said Marlins manager Don Mattingly, the decision to pinch for Alcantara was an easy one. His replacement, Sandy León, was called out on strikes.
“We have to try to score,” Mattingly said. “We have to try to put a dot on the board and give it a win that way.”
MLB RBI leader Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored the Blue Jays’ only goal against Alcantara in the sixth.
Ross Stripling of Toronto allowed a run in six innings. Tim Mayza (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth, and Jordan Romano faced just three hitters in the ninth for his fourth save to complete a three hitter.
Starling Marte opened ninth for Miami with an infield single, but was sent off trying to steal.
“He’s definitely got the green light there,” Mattingly said. “The math is working, but it didn’t look like he had taken a good leap.”
Miami rookie Jesús Sánchez hit his second home run in the second inning.
Toronto outfielder George Springer scored 0 for 4 on his return to the lineup. He was activated after missing 66 of the first 70 games due to strain in his right quadriceps.
“Alcantara threw its tail, and our roster didn’t show up the way they usually do,” Stripling said. “But our roster is special, and now we’re going to add George Springer to it for the next 90+ games. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see him in there.
The Blue Jays scored a point in the sixth. Bo Bichette was hit with a pitch, stole second place, took third place on a wild pitch and came home on a single in opposite field from Guerrero.
Toronto improved to 12-2 in interleague games, including 3-0 against Miami. The Marlins are down to 5-13 in one-point games, while Toronto is 6-9.
REPRESSION
Both starting pitchers passed umpire inspections between innings as part of the MLB crackdown on sticky substances.
“They kept it light and quick and easy,” Stripling said. “We started to get a feel for what it looks like. I made adjustments; it’s not a big change. I am not afraid that it will advance.
REMOVING
Alcantara remained just 4-6 despite an ERA of 2.93. He declined to complain about being lifted after eight innings with the game tied.
“Every five days I try to pitch nine innings,” the Dominican said in Spanish. “There are things going on during the game that I might not allow, and you have to respect them. “
SIT
Montoyo’s penalty came after MLB concluded that Blue Jays rookie Alek Manoah intentionally threw at Maikel Franco of the Orioles last weekend.
TRAINERS ‘ROOM
Blue Jays: Bichette was hit in the left elbow by a 97 mph fastball but stayed in the game. “I think he will be fine,” Schneider said. “His guardian helped him a bit.”
Marlins: OF Corey Dickerson (blue in left foot) should be in a boot for three weeks, manager Don Mattingly said. … 1B-OF Garrett Cooper (lumbar strain) has taken up batting practice and is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week. … RHP Jorge Guzman (right elbow inflammation) is due to start a game on Thursday in extended spring training.
FOLLOWING
Marlins’ Trevor Rogers (7-3, 1.87), who leads all MLB rookies in wins, ERA and strikeouts, is set to start Wednesday in the series final against Robbie Ray (4-3, 3, 50) in a left-hand match – the delivery men.
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