It was a statement game for the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, as the team unleashed a season-best offensive performance to demolish the Los Angeles Angels 14-1 at Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays set new season highs in both runs and hits (20), with the offense erupting for a seven-run fifth inning that effectively put the game out of reach. Leading the charge was Brandon Valenzuela, who went 4-for-5 with four RBIs in his first career four-hit game. Valenzuela came just a triple shy of the cycle, capping his day with a three-run home run on the first pitch he saw from Mitch Farris in the fifth inning.
Ernie Clement also had a day to remember, tying his career high with five hits. Clement started with infield singles in the second and fourth innings, then drove in a run with a hard-hit single off the glove of third baseman Yoán Moncada during the pivotal fifth. He added a solo homer to lead off the seventh—his second of the season—and singled again in the ninth to complete his impressive afternoon.
Mason Fluharty (2-0) earned the win after working a scoreless inning, as the Blue Jays' pitching staff kept the Angels' bats quiet for most of the game. The lone bright spot for Los Angeles came in the eighth inning, when Adam Frazier delivered a pinch-hit single to drive in the team's only run. Frazier then stayed on to pitch the ninth, allowing four runs and five hits—including a solo home run by Jesús Sánchez.
Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz (2-2) struggled mightily, allowing nine hits and seven runs (six earned) over just four-plus innings. He faced six batters in the fifth without recording a single out.
On a tough night for Angels superstar Mike Trout, the three-time MVP went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts before being replaced defensively by Bryce Teodosio. The outing snapped Trout's impressive 23-game streak of reaching base in Toronto, a run that dated back to May 2015.
Blue Jays fans also got a glimpse of some defensive brilliance. In the second inning, Addison Barger—returning after missing 29 games with a sprained left ankle—caught Vaughn Grissom's fly ball and unleashed a throw home at 101.2 mph to retire Jorge Soler for an inning-ending double play. It was the fastest throw on an outfield assist by any Blue Jay since 2015 and the hardest in the majors this season.
The two teams will wrap up their series on Sunday, with Angels right-hander José Soriano (5-2, 1.74 ERA) taking on Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer (1-4, 6.03 ERA).