Instant Reaction: Ernie Clement and Brandon Valenzuela have big games as Blue Jays destroy Angels 14-1
On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Jays played their second of three this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels, defeating the American League West team 14-1. With the win, they’ve now won four of their last six series. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
WELCOME BACK, ADDISON BARGER! WHAT A THROW!
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In the bottom of the second, the Blue Jays got their first baserunners of the game, as both Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement hit two-out singles, but they were stranded. Yesavage ran into some more issues in the top of the third, allowing a walk and single with no outs. He got out of it thanks to a pair of strikeouts and a flyout.
The Blue Jays turn two to get out of the 4th without allowing a run!
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That was the first half of the game. The second half went much better for the Blue Jays. In the bottom of the fourth, Jesús Sánchez was plunked, followed by singles from Varsho and Clement. With the bases loaded and no outs, Giménez flew out to drive in a run. Unfortunately, that was all the Jays got in the bottom of the fourth.
They saved their offence for a seven-run bottom of the fifth. Barger walked, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a single, and a wild pitch moved both runners 90 feet. Kazuma Okamoto drove in the Blue Jays’ second run with a single. Sánchez hit a single to score another run, followed by a fielding error that cashed the Blue Jays’ fourth run of the game. Clement then got his third hit of the game, driving in a run with an RBI single.
The biggest swing of the game came in two batters later. With two on and one out, Brandon Valenzuela hit his fourth home run of the season to put the Blue Jays up 8-0, capping off their third seven-run inning of the season.
Valenzuela homers to blow it wide open!
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Overall, the Blue Jays mustered 20 hits, and Clement had five of them. Leading off the bottom of the seventh, the infielder hit his second home run of the season. The Jays scored another run that inning thanks to an RBI single from Guerrero Jr.
In the top of the eighth, the Angels scored their first and only run of the game, but Davis Schneider made a nice diving stab at second with two runners in scoring position. After a quick toss to first base, the inning ended. With a position player on the mound, the Blue Jays scored four more runs. The most notable of which was Sánchez’ fifth home run of the season. Valenzuela also hit a double.
Jesus Sanchez rips a home run with a position player on the mound!
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Takeaways…
Did the Blue Jays ever need a game like this? Of the 20 hits, Ernie Clement had a quarter of them. It was his second career five-hit game, matching the five hits he had on August 4th, 2025, against the Colorado Rockies. Ironically, that was a 15-1 Blue Jays’ victory.
Saturday was easily Brandon Valenzuela’s best game of his young big league career. His fourth home run of the season broke open the game, as he moved into a tie for third-most on the team. It was also his first four-hit game of his career notching his first career double.
When a team scores 14 runs, they don’t need pitching to be perfect. Similar to his last start, Trey Yesavage had traffic in the second, third, and fourth innings, but minimized the damage. In fact, no damage was done, as he pitched four scoreless innings with six strikeouts and two walks.
Trey Yesavage strikes out the side in the 1st!
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It was a solid game for the bullpen as well. Mason Fluharty threw a clean inning, striking out two. Braydon Fisher and Joe Mantiply also had clean innings. Tyler Rogers was the lone pitcher to give up a run, bringing his ERA to 2.04. Tommy Nance got the final three outs.
The Jays will look to win their first series since the first of the season. Sunday’s game has a 1:37 PM ET start time, with Eric Lauer expected to pitch the bulk of the innings following Spencer Miles starting. José Soriano will go for the Angels.