The Blue Jays defeated the Rockies 5-0 thanks to three RBIs from Justin Turner and two hits allowed.
Against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, Turner started the game with a two-out single in the first, doubled in a run in the third, then added another two-out RBI single in the fifth. This season, Turner is 8 for 10 versus left-handed pitchers with 6 RBIs. As of right now, Berríos added, “He’s special.” “What a talented athlete.”
After dropping their opening two series, the Blue Jays emerged victorious in their next two. Berríos (3-0) gave up two hits, both singles, two walks, and seven strikeouts. He reduced his ERA from 1.45 to 1.05. He also extended his run of scoreless innings to 15 2/3.
On Sunday, April 14, 2024, during a first-inning baseball game in Toronto, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer, left, celebrates with teammate Davis Schneider, 36, after scoring against the Colorado Rockies. (Frank Gunn via AP; The Canadian Press)Copyright Source: Associated Press—Sports “We simply were unable to solve him,” stated Rockies manager Bud Black.
Ryan McMahon of Colorado claimed that for a split second, he believed he would be hit by a fastball from Berríos that he struck out staring at in the third.McMahon remarked, “He wasn’t predictable at all.” “He had the self-assurance to toss anything into any count. His confidence was palpable in public.”
On Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Toronto, Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland tosses against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game. (Frank Gunn via AP; The Canadian Press)© Source: Associated Press – Sports Turner commended Berríos for his fortitude while there were runners on base. Turner remarked, “His ability to pitch out of jams has been spectacular when he gets into them.”
With an eighth-inning 1-2-3 inning from Toronto’s Génesis Cabrera and a ninth-inning strikeout by Nate Pearson, Colorado suffered its second consecutive shutout loss in 2024.
Freeland (0-3) dropped his third game in four starts after giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings. Freeland had two walks and three strikeouts. His ERA decreased to 13.21 from 16.03.
On Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Toronto, Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland tosses against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning of a baseball game. (Frank Gunn via AP; The Canadian Press)© Sourced from Associated Press Sports.
In the bottom of the first inning, Turner’s bloop single to drive in George Springer was the 15th time this season that Colorado’s opponent has opened the scoring in 16 games.
This season, the Rockies have given up 23 runs in the opening inning. Despite having a season-high 20 hits in their 12-4 victory on Friday, the Rockies’ offense faltered. Before Berríos shut down the Rockies on Sunday, Colorado had seven hits in a 5-3 loss on Saturday.
Kevin Kiermaier (39), of the Toronto Blue Jays, is greeted by teammates Bo Bichette (second from left) and Justin Turner (right) following his scoring on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single during a baseball game played in Toronto on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in the third inning against Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies. The Canadian Press)· Sourced from Associated Press Sports
In Sunday’s series finale, the Rockies fanned ten times after striking out fifteen times on Saturday.”We’ve punched out the past couple of nights,” Black remarked. “We need to improve a little bit on really putting the ball in play and bearing down with two strikes.”
On Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Toronto, Colorado Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar (14) reacts after striking out against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos during a baseball game in the fifth inning. (Frank Gunn via AP; The Canadian Press)© Sourced from Associated Press Sports. For Toronto, Springer had two hits and two runs scored, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added an RBI single.