Rockies 3 Blue Jays 5

That was a fun game.

It was decided on one swing of the bat, Daulton Varsho’s grand slam. But that wasn’t all of it.

Yariel Rodríguez was terrific. 3.2 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. He was in control almost all the way through his 11 outs. There was a bit of trouble when he was tiring, but he was a ton of fun to watch. He had 2 strikeouts in the first inning and another in the second. And then one more in the third, even though he gave up a home run. He gave up a couple of singles in the fourth inning but still looked good.

Bowden Francis gave up another hit in the fourth, loading the bases, and then got out of the inning. He threw 2.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. He was also very good.

Tim Mayza had a 3-up, 3-down in the seventh inning with a strikeout. That’s the best he’s looked this season.

Chad Green threw a perfect eighth with 2 strikeouts, and Yimi Garcia struck out the side in the ninth, picking up his first save of the season. He was dominant.

The Jays did all their scoring in the first inning:

• George Springer started the game with a single.
• Vladimir Guerrero lined one hard to the wall in right (101.4 mph). Kris Bryant made either a great or lucky catch at the wall. He spun around a bit but ended up with the ball in his glove. A better right fielder would have made an easier catch, but a poorer one might have turned it into a double.
• Bo Bichette singled to left.
• Daniel Vogelbach walked.
• Cavan Biggio flied out.
• Davis Schneider walked (really nice at bat) and got an RBI.
• And Varsho lined one to right center, over the wall, 105.5 mph, 390 feet.

Unfortunately, that would be the end of our scoring.

We had 9 hits. Springer and Bichette each had 2. O-fers for Vogelbach (who took a walk) and Brian Serven.

IKF made a terrific catch on a line drive and then led off the next inning with a double.

It wouldn’t be a Jays game without a runner thrown out on the bases. Vlad tried to go first to third on a Bichette single to right. He wasn’t out by a lot, but then, with two outs, there was no reason to take the chance.

Jays of the Day: Varsho (.204 WPA), and Schneider (.095). Honourable mention to Rodriguez, Mayza, Green and Garcia.

No one gets the other award. Biggio had the low mark at -.074.

Tomorrow, they have a 1:00 Eastern. Jose Berrios vs Kyle Freeland.