Field Level Media
Aug 27, 2019
Justin Smoak hit a solo home run and an RBI single as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 3-1 Tuesday night.
Zack Godley (4-5), the second of seven Toronto pitchers, allowed no runs, two infield hits and two walks while striking out two in three innings.
Ken Giles pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth and had two strikeouts for his 17th save.
Braves starter Mike Soroka (10-3), a Calgary native, allowed two runs in six innings, giving up eight hits and striking out one.
Four Blue Jays -- Cavan Biggio, Vladimir Guererro Jr., Smoak and Reese McGuire -- posted two hits in the win. Recent pickup Billy Hamilton went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks for Atlanta.
Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson -- the 2015 American League MVP with the Blue Jays -- received two standing ovations and a video tribute in his first game in Toronto since being traded to the Cleveland Indians last season.
The Blue Jays scored twice in the first inning. Bo Bichette reached second on Donaldson's throwing error on an infield single. Biggio singled, and Guerrero and Smoak delivered RBI singles.
Toronto opened with Wilmer Font, who pitched around a leadoff double in the first, then struck out the side in the second to finish his scoreless outing with four K's.
Toronto's Tim Mayza allowed Matt Joyce's two-out double in the sixth and was replaced by Jason Adam, who balked Joyce to third before Dansby Swanson lined out to right.
Blue Jays reliever Jordan Romano allowed a single to Tyler Flowers and a walk to Hamilton with one out in the seventh. Romano struck out Ronald Acuna Jr., then was replaced by Derek Law, who gave up an RBI ground-rule double to Ozzie Albies.
Freddie Freeman was walked intentionally to load the bases for Donaldson, who popped out to shortstop to leave the Braves down 2-1.
Sean Newcomb replaced Soroka and allowed Smoak's 20th homer this season to open the seventh, then pitched around three walks.
Law pitched around a walk and had a strikeout in the eighth.
Atlanta's Shane Greene allowed a single to right field in the bottom of the eighth by Rowdy Tellez, who was thrown out by Acuna trying for a double. Acuna also threw out Biggio trying for a double in the third.
--Field Level Media