TORONTO — Ernie Clement hit his third home run in his last three games, and the Toronto Blue Jays used a five-run second inning to build an early lead and beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Thursday night.
Clements’ home run came on a fastball at eye level from right-hander Mike Baumann that landed outside the strike zone. According to MLB, it was the second-highest pitch hit as a home run since pitch tracking began in 2008.
“I probably shouldn’t swing on pitches like that,” Clement said. “I’ve missed that pitch a few times this year. I just try to get the bat to the ball in two hits.”
Angels manager Ron Washington had a different opinion.
“Sometimes you can do the impossible,” Washington said.
The Blue Jays, who won a three-game road series against the Angels last week, have won four games in a row and eight of 10.
Niko Kavadas hit a three-run home run, his first major league hit, against Toronto right-hander Tommy Nance with two outs in the ninth inning.
“Definitely a huge relief,” said Kovadas.
The Angels lost for the eighth time in 10 games, hours after announcing a two-year contract extension for general manager Perry Minasian.
“We hadn’t scored a run for 17 innings and then we finally broke through,” Washington said. “Hopefully that will give us a boost for tomorrow.”
Los Angeles lost 3-0 in Kansas City on Wednesday.
Reliever Ryan Burr started for the Blue Jays, who moved all of their starters back a day to give them extra rest. Toronto and Boston will resume a suspended game early in the second inning on Monday before playing a second game later that same day.
The right-hander Burr allowed two hits and left the field after Jo Adell opened the second with a single. Adell finished the game 3 for 4.
Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (5-2) followed with five scoreless innings. Yarbrough allowed three hits, all singles. He did not allow a walk and struck out four times.
“It was like Bob Ross,” manager John Schneider said of Yarbrough’s 60-pitch performance. “He was painting.”
Left-hander Brendon Little pitched the seventh inning and Nance pitched the final two innings.
Brock Burke (1-1) started for the Angels, his first Major League appearance since September 2019 with Texas. The right-hander allowed three runs and three hits.
Burke retired the team in order in the first inning and left the field after allowing three consecutive hits to start the second inning, including an RBI double by Alejandro Kirk and an RBI single by Will Wagner.
Clement greeted Baumann with a 380-foot home run to left, his 10th of the season.
Joey Loperfido followed with a triple and later scored on George Springer’s RBI groundout.
“They wrote the five on the board and that was it,” Washington said.
In his first relief appearance of 2024 after making a career-high 25 starts this season, Angels right-hander Griffin Canning took over the role in the third inning and struck out 18 of the 20 batters he faced in six scoreless innings.
“He looked really good from the first inning,” Washington said.
TRAINING ROOM
Angels: OF Mickey Moniak stayed in the field to run the bases after being hit in the left elbow by a pitch from Yarbrough in the third inning. Former Blue Jays star Kevin Pillar replaced Moniak in center field for the second half of the inning. Washington said Moniak’s X-rays were negative and his condition was improving day by day.
Next
RHP Chris Bassitt (9-12, 4.34 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays on Friday night against Angels RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-3, 6.53).
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