In a thrilling finish on Wednesday night, Alejandro Kirk delivered a decisive hit that clinched a 2-1 victory for the Toronto Blue Jays over the Philadelphia Phillies. This game was a masterclass in late-inning drama, highlighted by smart base running and clutch hitting.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set the stage with a critical one-out single against his former teammate, Jordan Romano, who now sports a 4-2 record. Guerrero’s hustle didn’t stop there—he promptly stole second base, putting the Blue Jays in prime position to capitalize. While Addison Barger struck out, Kirk stepped up to the plate and turned the tide with a line drive that ricocheted off the wall in right field, allowing Guerrero to sprint home with the winning run.
On the mound, the former Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman picked up the win, improving to 5-2 as he secured one crucial out in relief. It was a tightly contested matchup, and the initial momentum belonged to the Phillies, thanks to Nick Castellanos, who launched a solo homer off Blue Jays starter José Berríos in the second inning.
Toronto wasn’t deterred, however, and managed to even the score in the sixth inning. A sparkling triple from Bo Bichette set up a run-scoring opportunity for Andrés Giménez, marking the first run allowed by Phillies righty Mick Abel during his young MLB career. Abel, making waves in his debut just a week earlier, had shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates and struck out nine batters. Against the Blue Jays, he showcased his skills again, surrendering only one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings, with two strikeouts and no walks—impressive numbers for this emerging talent.
In fact, Abel’s performance places him in rare company, as he has become the first pitcher in at least the last 125 seasons to record 5-plus innings, no walks, and either one or no runs allowed in each of his first two major league appearances.
The Phillies had to make a quick roster adjustment before the game, recalling Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the spot of righty Zack Wheeler, who was placed on the paternity list. The team felt his absence, particularly with the late game developments.
On the defensive front, a concerning moment arose when Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto took a foul tip directly to the groin from Bichette in the ninth inning. He did remain down for a spell before gingerly walking off the field, leading to Rafael Marchán stepping in as his replacement.
A notable statistic that looms over this matchup: the Phillies fell to 29-8 when they score first, a record that showcases just how critical early runs can be in tight contests like this one.
Looking ahead, the series finale promises more excitement as the Phillies’ Jesús Luzardo, boasting a 5-1 record and 3.58 ERA, is slated to face off against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt, who holds a 5-3 record with a 3.80 ERA. With the stakes high, fans can expect another thrilling showdown.
