Aug 18, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido (9) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports Bowden Francis held the host Chicago Cubs to three hits over seven innings, and Joey Loperfido’s homer made the difference in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 1-0 win on Sunday afternoon.
Loperfido’s third home run of the season came in the second inning off Cubs starter Shota Imanaga and was estimated at 409 feet. It didn’t need the help of the wind, which was blowing from left field to right field at 15 mph.
Francis (6-3) struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter in winning his second straight start. He did appear to catch a break in the third inning, when the wind kept a fly ball to left-center by Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya from going over the fence.
Toronto reliever Ryan Burr got the first two Cubs out in the eighth, and after he issued a walk, Genesis Cabrera came on to strike out pinch hitter Isaac Parades.
Chicago’s Hector Neris worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the ninth, and the Cubs threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Chad Green. Cody Bellinger singled with one out, and with two outs, he stole second. But Green secured his 13th save when he got Dansby Swanson to ground out.
The first two hits Francis allowed came with one out in the fourth, on Michael Busch’s check-swing grounder and Seiya Suzuki’s bloop single to center.
Francis got Bellinger to pop out, and he should have been out of the inning on Nico Hoerner’s grounder to short, but Ernie Clement bobbled the ball as he attempted to flip it to second for a forceout. Francis, who struck out a career-high eight in his previous outing, then caught Swanson looking.
Imanaga (9-3) yielded just the one run on four hits and one walk. He struck out six but was pulled to start the sixth inning after throwing 97 pitches, 69 for strikes. It was his first loss since June 21.
Francis was pulled after seven innings, matching his career high, which also came in his previous start. He threw 71 of his 95 pitches, also a career high, for strikes.
The Blue Jays got singles from Alejandro Kirk and Spencer Horwitz with two outs in the eighth off reliever Ethan Roberts, but Roberts got Addison Barger to line out.
George Springer, Loperfido and Kirk each had two of Toronto’s eight hits. Hoerner had a double in the seventh for the Cubs, who finished with four hits.
–Field Level Media