CHICAGO — For six innings, it seemed like the Blue Jays were bringing Friday’s heavy defeat back onto the field with them.
Their bats were silent. The bullpen was running low on options. Another loss felt unavoidable.
But everything changed when Kazuma Okamoto hit a homer an inning later.
With a five-run rally in the eighth inning and an offense that finally came alive after a long lull, the Blue Jays made an impressive comeback from a five-run deficit to win against the Cubs, 8-6, on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
“I love how they fought,” manager John Schneider said. “Yesterday’s game was tough. We got blown out pretty good, then we found ourselves down 5-0 after Pete [Crow-Armstrong]’s homer. But they’re not going to give up, and today was a great one.”
This determination has quietly become one of Toronto’s trademarks.
The Blue Jays entered the seventh inning down 5-0 and had struggled against Cubs starter Colin Rea, who kept them hitless for four innings. Toronto had managed just two runs over their last 15 innings dating back to Friday’s 16-2 loss.
There didn’t seem to be much hope for a comeback.
In his first game back from the injured list earlier that day, the center fielder stepped up with two runners on base and one out in the seventh inning. One swing later, it was suddenly 5-3.
“Vars’ homer was massive there,” Schneider said. “It really sparked us. It allowed us to get into the game and stay competitive.”
“It’s always great to have guys back healthy,” starter Patrick Corbin said. “He made solid contact on that pitch and put those first three runs on the board for us.”
The comeback still needed more momentum. Toronto found it in the eighth inning.
Myles Straw worked a leadoff walk before George Springer added a single. Alejandro Kirk, coming off the bench cold, delivered a pinch-hit RBI single making it 5-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a game-tying single into center field that drew cheers from many Blue Jays fans scattered throughout Wrigley Field.
Suddenly, Toronto had all the momentum on their side. Okamoto ensured it stayed that way.
With runners on base and still no outs in the inning, the rookie slugger saw a fastball he liked and sent it soaring into left-field bleachers. As he rounded third base pointing towards Toronto’s dugout, excitement filled him.
A moment before that swing, he reminded himself to keep his composure.
“I was getting mentally ready because I had a feeling I would get an at-bat there,” Okamoto said. “Just put together a good swing, try not to hit into a double play and stick with my approach.”
The outcome turned out even better than expected.
“For someone who’s been working hard lately, it’s great to come through like that and tie things up,” Schneider said.
This comeback wouldn’t have happened without help from Toronto’s bullpen as well.
Corbin lasted only 3 2/3 innings before leaving Schneider piecing together what remained of the game with relief pitchers who’d already faced heavy use yesterday.
Instead of letting things slip away further, Lazaro Estrada along with other relievers kept things manageable for Toronto.
“Great job by Laz,” Schneider said. “The bullpen did well under pressure; we’ve been asking so much of them but they’re rising to meet those challenges.”
No situation loomed larger than what faced Louis Varland next.
After Toronto took charge of the lead, Mason Fluharty loaded up bases with no outs in bottom of eighth inning while Cubs’ heart lineup waited – Varland now entering amidst roaring crowd at Wrigley Field again
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