Jose Berrios improves to 4-0 as Jays knock off Padres

Field Level Media|published: Sat 20th April, 23:32 2024

Apr 20, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Daulton Varsho (25) is congratulated by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (right) after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park. credits: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Berrios tossed six shutout innings and Daulton Varsho cracked a three-run homer to lift the visiting Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Berrios (4-0) scattered five hits, walked two and struck out six to lower his earned run average to 0.85. Toronto's bullpen made it interesting by permitting single runs in the seventh and eighth, before Jordan Romano locked down his second save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Randy Vasquez (0-1) struggled early for San Diego, which dropped its third straight game. He surrendered five hits and four runs, one earned, over five innings and 97 pitches. Vasquez walked one and fanned three.

Making his first start with the Padres after being called up from Triple-A El Paso before the game, Vasquez didn't get needed help from his defense in the first. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled with one out, Bo Bichette's routine grounder to third became a throwing error on rookie Graham Pauley.

Vasquez fanned Justin Turner on a foul tip on a high fastball, but Varsho drilled a 3-1 fastball 381 feet into the seats down the right field line, his fifth homer of the year.

The Blue Jays made it 4-0 in the second when Isiah Kiner-Falefa dashed home on a wild pitch by Vasquez that might have skittered 15 feet away from catcher Luis Campusano. Pinch-hitter Ernie Clement tacked on an RBI single in the ninth.

The most excitement the Padres generated in the first six innings came when Jurickson Profar and manager Mike Shildt were ejected after the bottom of the first inning. After being called out on strikes by Ramon DeJesus to end the first, Profar slammed his bat and helmet. Shildt followed him into the clubhouse shortly thereafter.

The Padres got on the board in the seventh via Xander Bogaerts' groundout, then cut the margin to 4-2 in the eighth when Ha-Seong Kim knocked in Jose Azocar with a single.

Varsho finished with three of Toronto's eight hits and Guerrero added two. Azocar and Campusano each went 2-for-3 for San Diego.

—Field Level Media