Kikuchi struck out five and gave up one run to earn the win as the Toronto Blue Jays held off the Detroit Tigers for a 5-3 win on Thursday. It was Kikuchi’s first start for the Blue Jays since July 5, spending time on the injured list with a strained neck. After finishing the fifth inning with back-to-back strikeouts, Kikuchi asked interim Toronto manager John Schneider to stay in the game. “He came in and told me he was hungry for more, which is awesome,” Snyder said. “I told him great job and use it as a springboard for the next one. “We’re going to need those kinds of outings from him to get where we want to go. So he’s been great with that.” Kikuchi (4-5) held the Tigers to two hits and one walk, throwing just 67 pitches. It was his first win since a 4-1 decision at Tampa Bay on June 30. “The first thing I said to Snyder was, ‘I’m starving, I want to keep going,’” Kikuchi said through translator Kevin Ando. “But I realized I was in a pitch count after not flying for a while. “Overall, I’m really looking forward to my next step.” Working with Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker saved Kikuchi’s season. The 31-year-old lefty struggled with his command all year until Walker helped Kikuchi find his natural throwing motion during his time in IL. “Pete came up to me and said, ‘Hey, look, whenever we do any kind of work, you go to first base or whatever base is right on the money almost every time,’” Kikuchi said. “So what he was saying was that it was basically my physical slot in the hand, maybe. “So we put together a throwing program to get me in a more athletic position, just letting the natural arm slot work.” Matt Chapman had a two-run homer and added a solo shot to lead Toronto’s offense (55-44). Alejandro Kirk had an RBI single and added a double, going 2-for-3 for the Blue Jays, while Danny Jansen added a run on a sacrifice fly. “We’ve all had Kikuchi back all season and been in his corner,” Chapman said. “But I think him going away for a while, regrouping, coming back and having an outing like that can set the tone for a strong finish for him.” Adam Cimber, Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia and Jordan Romano came out of the Toronto bullpen. Mayza and Garcia each gave up a run, but Romano got the final four outs for his 23rd save of the year. Willi Castro and Jonathan Schoop each had a home run for Detroit (40-60) with Eric Haase getting an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Tyler Alexander (2-4) allowed three runs — two earned — on five hits and one walk in four innings. Will Vest, Angel De Jesus, Jose Cisnero and Alex Lange came on in relief for the Tigers. Castro’s home run in the second gave Detroit an early 1-0 lead, but Kirk answered for the Blue Jays in the third, blasting a shot to center for a single. That gave George Springer enough time to score from second to tie the game. Springer had reached base on a throwing error by Detroit shortstop Javy Baez, making it an unearned run. Chapman gave Toronto its first lead in the fourth with a 346-foot blast that scored Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to make it 3-1. Two innings later, Chapman hit again, hitting his second home run of the game and his 18th of the year. He has 12 homers since early June. “If I make consistent contact and find the barrel, I know the power is going to be there,” Chapman said. “That’s something I want to happen naturally as opposed to going out there and feeling like I have to drive the ball or try to do more when I have to let it come to me.” Schoop chipped away at Toronto’s lead with a homer in the seventh, then Haase cut the Blue Jays’ lead to 4-3 with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Jansen gave the Blue Jays some breathing room in the bottom of that inning with his fly ball bringing home Gurriel Jr. MAKE ROOM — Right-handed reliever Jeremy Beasley was optioned to the Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y., ahead of Thursday’s game. The move made room on the Blue Jays’ roster for Kikuchi’s return from the injured list. ABOVE — Blue Jays all-star Alek Manoah (11-4) will take the mound Friday as Toronto continues its four-game series against the Tigers. Brian Garcia (0-0) will make his first start of the season for Detroit. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 28, 2022.
