Brandon Valenzuela launched a three-run homer during a seven-run fifth inning on Saturday, propelling the Toronto Blue Jays to a dominant 14-1 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Valenzuela finished with four hits, while Ernie Clement recorded his second career five-hit performance, including a solo home run, as Toronto amassed 20 hits to claim their second consecutive win in the three-game series.
Jesus Sanchez also added a solo homer, and the Blue Jays padded their lead against infielder Adam Frazier, who pitched a four-run eighth inning for the Angels. Los Angeles has now lost four of their five meetings with Toronto this season.
Mason Fluharty (2-0) delivered a perfect fifth inning in relief.
The Angels threatened in the second against starter Trey Yesavage. Jorge Soler led off with a double off the top of the center-field wall and advanced to third on Yoan Moncada’s one-out single to right. The inning ended when Addison Barger threw out Soler at the plate on Vaughn Grissom’s flyout to right.
Barger (sprained ankle) was activated from the injured list on Saturday, with Yohendrick Pinango optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Yesavage tossed four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out six on 87 pitches.
Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the fourth against Jack Kochanowicz (2-2). Sanchez was hit by a pitch, followed by singles from Daulton Varsho and Clement to load the bases with no outs. Andres Gimenez then lifted a sacrifice fly to the left-field corner.
The Blue Jays erupted for seven more runs in the fifth against a sloppy Angels defense. Barger walked and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled, then both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Kazuma Okamoto flared an RBI single to left, and Sanchez blooped an RBI single that dropped among three fielders down the left-field line. Another run scored when Kochanowicz threw wildly to first on Varsho’s comebacker. Clement grounded an RBI single to left to make it 5-0. Mitch Farris replaced Kochanowicz and surrendered Valenzuela’s three-run homer with one out.
Kochanowicz allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks with no strikeouts over four-plus innings, throwing 84 pitches.
Clement led off the seventh with a homer to left off Farris, and Guerrero added an RBI single.
Pinch-hitter Frazier stroked an RBI double to right against Tyler Rogers in the eighth, giving the Angels their first run of the series.
Angels pinch-hitter Omar Martinez collected his first major league hit in the ninth with a single off Tommy Nance.
