The Toronto Blue Jays finally got back in the win column, snapping a four-game losing streak with a commanding 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Leading the charge was ace Dylan Cease, who delivered a masterclass on the mound.
Cease struck out 10 batters over seven dominant innings, marking his third double-digit strikeout performance in just eight starts this season. He allowed only five hits and didn't issue a single walk, improving his record to 3-1. It was exactly the kind of performance Toronto needed to halt their recent slide.
The Blue Jays' offense provided just enough support in the third inning. Kazuma Okamoto drove in a run with an RBI single, and Ernie Clement followed with a sacrifice fly to give Toronto a 2-0 lead. That was all Cease and the bullpen would need.
On the other side, the night carried extra significance for Angels pitcher Alek Manoah. The 28-year-old right-hander made his return from Tommy John surgery, which had kept him out since May 29, 2024. Facing his former team for the first time, Manoah delivered a perfect eighth inning, striking out one batter and touching 93.8 mph with his fastball.
Angels starter Reid Detmers struggled with command, walking a career-high six batters while allowing just two hits over 3⅔ innings. The loss dropped Los Angeles to 15-24, having now lost 14 of their last 18 games.
Louis Varland closed things out for Toronto with a perfect ninth inning, earning his fifth save of the season. The win improves the Blue Jays to 17-21 as they look to build momentum.
The series continues Saturday, with Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-1, 3.05 ERA) set to face Blue Jays righty Trey Yesavage (1-1, 0.96 ERA).