The Mile High City did not disappoint the Toronto Blue Jays. After taking the first two games of the series with double-digit runs on the board, the Jays’ bats outdid themselves earlier today, putting up 20 runs on the struggling NL West squad.

Although Colorado got on the board first with some timely first-inning hits, the one run they generated that frame would be their only number on the scoreboard that day. The Jays chipped away in the third inning thanks to a three-run home run from Bo Bichette, who exploded this series in Colorado to the tune of three home runs and seven hits. Bichette’s three-run blast over the right centre field wall would give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead.

The top of the fifth would see three more runs come across. Ty France got the Jays going with a double to centre field, followed by a walk to newcomer Buddy Kennedy, who was called up earlier this week from the minor leagues. Nathan Lukes would shoot a ball down the left centre field wall for a triple, plating France and Kennedy. Tyler Heineman would bring Lukes home on a single shortly after.

Toronto continued the onslaught into the top of the sixth inning, with Davis Schneider driving an inside 96 MPH fastball from reliever Angel Chivilli over the left field wall for a solo knock. This was Schneider’s sixth home run of the season. The bats would continue to bring on the support, with Ernie Clement and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. both producing singles to put a runner in scoring position. Another double from France would score Clement, while Guerrero would move to third base, making it 8-1 for Toronto. Kennedy’s day would be done with Addison Barger called in to pinch-hit, and the left-handed bat would score two more runs on a single back up the middle, helping the Jays reach double-digit run territory for the third game in a row.

Guerrero would join the home run parade in the top of the eighth inning, sending a 99 MPH fastball from reliever Victor Vodnik to the bullpen in right field, travelling 408 feet. Two more singles from France and Barger put the former Twin on third base, and Lukes would ground out down the first base line back to the pitcher but score France from third, making it 12-1.

With the Rockies waiving the white flag in the top of the ninth, catcher Austin Nola came on to pitch the inning with his mid-50s heat. Four back-to-back doubles from Clement, Guerrero, Bichette, and France would make it 14-1, and two sac flies from Barger and Lukes would plate two more runs. A three-run Davis Schneider homer would put the Jays one run from the 20 mark, and Clement had the honour of sending the ball over the left field wall for a solo shot of his own to reach the milestone.

The Jays collected 24 hits, four walks, and 20 RBIs on the day, with 13 extra-base hits. Davis Schnieder led the way with his double and two home runs, while France contributed three doubles on the day. Five different bats found their way into the home run tally, and only Buddy Kennedy was kept out of the hit column through his two at-bats. Schneider, Bichette, and Lukes each had four RBIs apiece while Barger added three as well.

The impressive day at the plate overshadowed Kevin Gausman and his seven innings of one-run ball, with the right-hander striking out eight compared to two walks. The Colorado product would allow just three hits and produce a 72.5% strike rate at the hitter-friendly park. Braydon Fisher and Tommy Nance would follow in relief for an inning each and allowed zero hits while striking out three combined to cap off the impressive day.

Toronto found their bats Colorado, producing a +39 run differential over their opponent (45-6), and the 63 hits they produced during this series is a Modern Era major-league record, according to Shi Davidi at Sportsnet. With their ninth sweep of the season, they lead the Major Leagues.

The Blue Jays will continue their quest in the NL West against a much more formidable opponent in the Los Angeles Dodgers, with their first game scheduled for Friday evening. The projected pitching matchup should be a good one: Max Scherzer vs. Clayton Kershaw.

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