Toronto Blue Jays Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (32) was sluggish with 3 home runs, but thanks to the team’s come-from-behind victory, he avoided the first loss of the season.
Kikuchi made a start in the 2023 major league home game against the Atlanta Braves at Toronto Rogers Center in Ontario, Canada on the 15th (Korean time), and was sluggish with 9 hits (3 homers메이저놀이터) and 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings. His earned run average also soared from 3.35 to 3.89.
Until this day, Kikuchi had 7 games (37⅔ innings), 5 wins, an undefeated ERA of 3.35, and 33 strikeouts. The previous appearance against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the 8th (6⅓ innings scoreless victory) was also powerful.
However, the day began with a home run by Atlanta number 1 Ronald Acuña Jr. in the first inning. In the second inning, Marcel Osuna doubled and Michael Harris Jr. hit and scored an extra run.
The Toronto lineup scored 3 runs in the second inning and turned the score 3-2, but Kikuchi blew a lead in the third inning. In the 3rd inning, Aji Albis hit the two-run gun and allowed a reversal. In the 4th inning, Kevin Pillar hit a solo shot again, and was content to throw up to 4 innings with 85 pitches. All three home runs were misfires with a high four-seam fastball and slider in the middle.
Kikuchi collapsed, but Toronto did not lose. After Kikuchi went down, the bullpen led by Anthony Bass (1 inning), Jay Jackson (1 inning), Trevor Richards (2 innings), and Nate Pearson (1 inning) worked together for 5 scoreless innings, laying the foundation for a come-from-behind victory.
In the end, I wrote a comeback drama in the last attack of the 9th episode. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s direct hit to the right fence, Matt Chapman’s walk, and Brandon Belt’s shortstop infield hit, Danny Jansen solved the problem with two outs loaded. A 6-5 come-from-behind victory was completed against Atlanta finisher Rizel Iglesias with 2 RBIs that missed 3 intervals and a timely hit to the left. Jansen went 5 at bats with 2 hits and 2 RBIs.
Toronto, which swept 3 straight matches against Atlanta and won 3 consecutive wins, maintained 3rd place in the American League East Division with 24 wins and 16 losses. Atlanta, which ranked first in the National League East Division, fell into a swamp of 4 consecutive losses and became 25-15.