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Instant Reaction: Ernie Clement and Daulton Varsho go deep in Blue Jays 5-1 win over Cubs
Photo credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Aug 12, 2025, 22:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 12, 2025, 22:36 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays have won two in a row.
On Tuesday evening, the Blue Jays defeated the Chicago Cubs in the series opener by a score of 5-1 to win their second consecutive game. They are the first American League team to reach 70 wins and will maintain, at worst, a four-and-a-half game lead for the division. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one!
In the bottom of the first, Alejandro Kirk stepped up to the plate with two on and two outs. On the first pitch, he smacked a single to centre field to take a 1-0 lead. That score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth, when Ernie Clement hit his fourth home run in five games, a three-run shot to make it 4-0.
The Cubs scored a run to break the Blue Jays’ shutout attempt in the top of the seventh, but the Blue Jays got that run back thanks to Daulton Varsho’s 12th home run in 133 plate appearances in the bottom of the eighth.
Number Five makes it FIVE 💪
Takeaways..
Ernie Clement is on some heater recently. Coming into this game, Clement was slashing .424/.441/.818 with three home runs in 34 plate appearances. Over his last five games, he now has four home runs, and he’s carrying the offence in this stretch.
Daulton Varsho now has his 12 home runs in 133 plate appearances, or 32 games this season. Over a 600-plate-appearance stretch, Varsho is on pace for 54 home runs. He’s been incredible this season when he’s been healthy.
Bo Bichette had a hit in this game, but his best play was a terrific play from the hole at shortstop to get an out. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a great stretch to record the out on his end, and Guerrero Jr. went 3-4.
Ty France’s hot streak has continued, going 2-3 with a double and single. He was also hit by a pitch. He’s been nothing short of great since joining the Blue Jays.
As for the pitching, José Berríos made the start, going five and one-third innings without giving up a run. He walked four and struck out three. Mason Fluharty got him out of the sixth inning, walking a batter in his two-thirds of an inning. Tommy Nance was the only reliever who gave up a run, going a third of an inning with a walk, a strikeout, and a run given up.
Brendon Little had another solid outing, striking out a batter with the bases loaded to get out of the inning. One of the biggest plays of the game. Louie Varland is incredible, striking out two in his inning of work. Jeff Hoffman rebounded, finishing with the same line as Varland.
The Jays have a chance to win the series on Wednesday, as Kevin Gausman is set to throw the first pitch at 7:07 PM ET.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.