The Sports Xchange
May 31, 2017
TORONTO -- Devon Travis hit a two-run, go-ahead homer in the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 to complete a three-game series sweep.
Luke Maile also hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays (26-27), who have won five of the first six games of a 10-game homestand.
Joey Votto and Scott Schebler homered for the Reds (24-28), who ended their road trip at 3-4.
Jason Grilli (2-4) pitched around a bunt single in the seventh to pick up the win. Roberto Osuna allowed a leadoff homer in the ninth but earned his 11th save, stranding runners at second and third.
Wandy Peralta (2-1) allowed the homer by Travis to take the loss.
Toronto right-hander Mike Bolsinger allowed four hits, four walks and three runs while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.
Cincinnati starter Tim Adleman allowed six hits, two walks and three runs in six innings. The right-hander struck out five.
Votto's 14th homer followed a one-out single in the first inning by Zack Cozart. It was the sixth straight game in which the Reds have scored in the first inning, something they previously accomplished from Aug. 25-30, 1999.
The Blue Jays cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Kendrys Morales. It scored Ezequiel Carrera, who singled and took third on a single by Jose Bautista.
Jose Peraza hit an RBI double in the second to put the Reds ahead 3-1. It scored Schebler, who led off with a walk, advanced to second on a walk to Scooter Gennett and took third when Tucker Barnhart grounded into a double play.
Maile's second homer of the season was a two-run shot in the fifth inning that tied the game at 3. It followed a bunt single by Ryan Goins.
Bolsinger left the game in the sixth after a one-out single by Eugenio Suarez moved Votto, who led off with a walk, to second.
Aaron Loup took over and struck out Schebler and Gennett to end the inning.
Peralta replaced Adleman in the bottom of the seventh and walked Goins with one out. After a wild pitch moved Goins to second, Travis hit a 3-2 pitch to left for his fifth homer to put Toronto into a 5-3 lead.
Joe Smith pitched a perfect eighth for Toronto. Drew Storen, a former Blue Jay, had a perfect bottom of the eighth for Cincinnati.
Schebler hit the first pitch from Osuna in the ninth for his 16th homer. Barnhart singled with one out and pinch runner Patrick Kivlehan reached third on an error by shortstop Goins on a grounder by Peraza, who stole second base.
Billy Hamilton and Cozart struck out to end the game.
NOTES: Toronto 2B Devon Travis batted in the leadoff spot for the eighth time this season as usual leadoff hitter CF Kevin Pillar did not start, entering the game in the seventh. Travis had his 13-game hit streak end Tuesday. ... Toronto 3B Josh Donaldson and SS Troy Tulowitzki did not start Tuesday. Both came off the disabled list Friday and were given a planned day off. C Russell Martin started at third base. ... The Reds have Thursday off before opening a three-game homestand against the Atlanta Braves Friday at Great American Ball Park with RHP Bronson Arroyo (3-4, 6.62) facing RHP Mike Foltynewicz (3-5, 4.44 ERA). ... The Blue Jays open a four-game series against the New York Yankees on Thursday at the Rogers Centre. Toronto RHP Marco Estrada (4-2, 3.15 ERA) will start against LHP CC Sabathia (5-2, 4.41 ERA) in the opener.