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Instant Reaction: Kevin Kiermaier hit his first home run of the season, Jays defeat the Nationals 6-3
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Photo credit: © Geoff Burke - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
May 4, 2024, 19:00 EDTUpdated: May 4, 2024, 19:48 EDT
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One loss, one win, one loss, one loss: This is the ritual of the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Saturday afternoon, the team played their second of three games in the United States capital, defeating the Washington Nationals 6-3. The win brings their record to 16-18, and evens up the series with the rubber match on Sunday.
The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the first, scoring four runs in the inning. Justin Turner singled in George Springer to make it 1-0, before an error scored two more runs. Toronto’s last run came via a Danny Jansen double, scoring Bo Bichette.
It stayed this way for a while, but the Nationals made it close in the bottom of the seventh, with a CJ Abrams sac fly scoring one run, while Nick Senzel’s single made it a 4-2 game.
However, the Jays answered back the next time they were up to bat, as Kevin Kiermaier (who returned from the injured list on Saturday) went deep for the first time this season, scoring Danny Jansen.
The Nationals made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth, as Luis García hit a single to score a run and bring the tying run up to the plate. However, Jordan Romano got Joey Meneses lined out to end the game.

Things worth mentioning…

Kevin Gausman looks to be returning to ace form, finishing with a line of 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K to bring his season ERA down to 3.78. After a rough start to his season, Gausman has been terrific the past few starts.
The Blue Jays had nine hits this afternoon, with Daulton Varsho and Danny Jansen both reaching base with a hit twice. Danny Jansen hit the only double of the game. George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Justin Turner, Bo Bichette, and Kevin Kiermaier all had a hit as well, with the latter going yard.
Bo Bichette was ejected from the game as he threw his helmet on the ground after a called strike three.You could say he took it, and threw it on the ground. It was a pitch that painted the corner, but it caught a piece of the plate.
Trevor Richards has arguably been the most consistent reliever out of the bullpen aside from Jordan Romano since 2021. He finished a clean inning with a strikeout, moving his ERA down to 3.45.
Up next: The Blue Jays play the rubber match on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET. Alek Manoah will make his first start of the season, and the National will run out MacKenzie Gore. If they win this game, it’ll be their first series win since the April 19-21 series against the Padres.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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