After and impressive 5-2 win yesterday, Toronto looks to take a 2-0 lead in the series against the Nationals. Looking straight ahead to the pitching match-up in this one, Jose Berrios will get his second turn on the mound for the Blue Jays, and will try to redeem himself after a less than hopeful opening day appearance against Baltimore.

Berrios would indeed start off the game rolling, striking out four of the first five batters he would face to begin the ballgame, and the offence backed him up in the bottom of the second when George Springer would line an RBI single into left field to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. Still in the same inning now with the bases loaded and still nobody out, Ernie Clement would hit a ground ball up the middle that would be snagged by the shortstop and flipped to second base for the first out, but Clement was able to beat the throw to first, resulting in a fielder’s choice and an RBI. Finally, Alan Roden would also hit a ground ball up the middle, this time to the second baseman who couldn’t field the ball cleanly, allowing Roden to reach base with an infield single and knock in Toronto’s third run of the inning.

Berrios continued to carve up the National’s lineup, sitting batters down just as quickly as they would step up to the plate. But in the top of the sixth with two out and two runners in scoring position, Kiebert Ruiz would be able to loop a single down the line in right field that would bring both runners in and cut the Jay’s lead to only one putting the score at 3-2. Berrios would be taken out in the seventh inning, and when the bullpen came to replace him, the Nationals were able to strike and put up another run, tying the game at 3 apiece. No offence would come from either side in both the bottom of the seventh or the top of the eighth innings, but in the bottom half of the eighth, two runners would be in scoring position for the Jays with two outs and leadoff man Bo Bichette in the batters box. On an 0-2 count, Bichette lined a ground ball past the first baseman and into right field, scoring both runners and putting the Jays back on top late making it 5-3.

Closer Jeff Hoffman would jog out from the bullpen to begin the ninth inning, and made quick work of the last three batters of the game, securing the save and the win for the Jays. Toronto now secured their first series win of the season, already taking two out of the three games against the Nationals, and have extended their winning streak to three straight games.

The Blue Jays will try to wrap up their homestand with another win and a series sweep on Wednesday, when Easton Lucas makes his major league debut starting on the mound.

Winner: Toronto Blue Jays (4-2)

Loser: Washington Nationals (1-4)

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

B. Bichette 2/5 2RBI

G. Springer 2/3 1RBI, 2R

A. Roden 2/2 1RBI

PITCHERS:

Win – C. Green: 0.1IP, 1K (1-0)

Loss – J. Ferrer: 1.2IP, 2H, 2R, 2K (0-1)

Save – J. Hoffman: 1.0IP, 0H, 0ER, 1K (2)