Bichette, Chapman homer to lift Blue Jays over Mariners

Bo Bichette believes that the Blue Jays’ Monday offensive outburst will help Toronto’s baseball get back on track. However, his teammates and he must stick to their process in order to accomplish that.

Matt Chapman and Bichette each hit a home run in the Blue Jays’ 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners. Bichette added another run to his 3-for-5 night with a single in eighth.

Toronto’s pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk scored two runs with his single (19-17) while Raimel Tapia recorded an RBI single for back-up starting pitcher Yusei Kakuchi (2-1), in one of his most impressive outings during the Major League Baseball season.

“To see [Kikuchi] being aggressive, going after hitters, I think that’s huge for him,” said Bichette. “He’s been getting better. He will continue to learn and become more aggressive, and hopefully, he will be able to build on this.

Kikuchi was able to allow only one hit in six innings and had six strikeouts. It matched his longest game of the season — a 2-1 win over the Yankees in New York on May 4 — and was the fewest hits and runs he allowed all year.

He saidHis continued improvement can be attributed to Pete Walker, Blue Jays pitching coach.

“Pete said he tried to throw a bitter’, which was basically an even bigger cutter,” saidKikuchi via translator Kevin Ando. “Just throw that with that intention. It felt great after a couple of throws so I’ve just kept it that way.

Eugenio Suearez homered in the seventh for Seattle (16-20), and Adam Frazier scored an RBI single to the ninth.

Chris Flexen (1-6), allowed six runs and struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings. The Mariners bullpen was home to Penn Murfree and Wyatt Mills. Roenis Elias also came out.

“Obviously [Flexen] made a couple of mistakes on the home run balls but, other than that, I thought he threw the ball really well,” said Seattle manager Scott Servais. “We didn’t do anything offensively to him.”

Bichette lifted a Flexen pitch of 2-2 from Flexen above the left-field fence and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. This was Bichette’s third home run of the season. A small group of fans near his landing spot began chanting “Ma-V-P!” Bichette completed the base-rounding.

Chapman followed up that with his second homer. For his sixth homer of the year, Chapman launched a pitch deep to centre with two out.

In the fifth, Kikuchi’s no hit bid was ended when Mariners left-fielder Jesse Winker hit a double down the first base line. Kikuchi ended the inning unaffected.

Toronto’s lead was extended by Raimel Tapia, who hit a two-out double to left field in sixth inning. For a 3-0 lead, Vinny Capra was pinch runner after his base hit of Murfree. Flexen was charged for that run.

Kirk was called in as a pinch-hitter to Zack Collins in the seventh. He drove an RBI double to centre field to score Bichette (and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) to increase Toronto’s lead of two.

Tapia was brought in from second base by Bichette for a 6-1 Blue Jays lead.

Frazier’s ninth-inning hit was his second of the game, driving in Suarez to score the final run.

Cavan Biggio, an Infielder from Toronto, was rehabilitated Monday evening after being placed on the COVID-related injury list. He was immediately assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.

Tim Mayza, a left-handed reliever, was placed on the Blue Jays’ 15-day injured roster with left forearm inflammation retroactively to Monday. In a corresponding move, Lefty Andrew Vasquez was also recalled from Buffalo.

Jose Berrios (2-2) will take the pitch Tuesday night in Toronto’s three-game series with Seattle. Logan Gilbery (4-1), will be the Mariners’ starter.