Daulton Varsho belts slam as Jays edge Guardians

Field Level Media|published: Sun 16th June, 16:57 2024

MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Toronto Blue Jays

Jun 16, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho (25) is greeted by team mates at home plate after hitting a grand slam home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Daulton Varsho hit a grand slam, Ernie Clement belted a two-run blast and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to defeat the visiting Cleveland Guardians 7-6 Sunday afternoon.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits and a walk for Toronto in the rubber match of the three-game series.

Daniel Schneemann had three hits, including a two-run home run, and Brayan Rocchio also had a two-run homer for the Guardians, who completed a 4-4 road trip. Steven Kwan went 4-for-5 with four singles and an RBI to extend his hit streak to 11.

Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios (6-5) allowed four runs and eight hits with one strikeout and no walks in six innings.

Cleveland right-hander Ben Lively (6-3) was charged with four runs on six hits and three walks and struck out four over four-plus innings.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the second. Addison Barger led off with a single and Clement hit a one-out blast to left-center for his third homer of the season.

Cleveland tied the game in the fifth. Schneemann led off with a single, Rocchio was hit by a pitch and Bo Naylor singled to left to load the bases. Kwan hit an RBI single to left and another run scored when Tyler Freeman grounded into a double play.

Lively was replaced by Nick Sandlin after walking Spencer Horwitz and Davis Schneider to open the bottom of the five-run fifth. Guerrero singled to the wall in center to load the bases. Varsho followed with a drive to right for his 11th home run of the season, his second grand slam of the season and the third of his career.

Sandlin walked George Springer and Alejandro Kirk and gave up an RBI single to Barger before being replaced by Scott Barlow.

Cleveland scored two in the sixth when Will Brennan singled and Schneemann hit a shot to left for his first career homer.

Toronto's Yimi Garcia allowed Schneeman's single and Rocchio's second homer of the season in the ninth to cut Cleveland's deficit to 7-6. Kwan and Freeman followed with two-out singles. Garcia left with a trainer and was replaced by Nate Pearson, who earned his second save of the season.

Cleveland was without Jose Ramirez (paternity list). Toronto was without Bo Bichette (calf).

--Field Level Media

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