Addison Barger's walk-off blast powers Blue Jays to their comeback win

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A team known for its comeback wins versus a team renowned for blowing leads.

The Blue Jays were trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 in Tuesday night’s series opener of a three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Toronto cut into the advantage by one and had a chance to either force extra innings or win the game in the home half of the ninth inning.

Bo Bichette went deep on a one-out blast into left field to tie the game. Addison Barger followed Bichette by going deep, a walk-off belt that left the yard in the blink of an eye.

The Blue Jays hit three home runs on a night when many hitters would be hit by pitches.

It was quite the way to end a three-game losing streak as the Blue Jays survived Arizona’s scare by emerging with a 5-4 win.

Chris Bassitt gave his team six complete innings, marking the third start in a row the veteran right-hander has pitched at least six innings.

Aircraft carrier returns

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has shown to be quite proficient at the plate when hitting from the No. 3 hole.

The decision to bat him second behind Bichette hasn’t been a total failure, but it also hasn’t translated into memorable plate appearances.

The Jays reshuffled their order and immediately saw the results.

Keep in mind Bichette does not see many pitches because he’s aggressive as they come by chasing pitches he should be taking.

A more relaxed Vlad Jr. spent his time pre-game catching up with friends, including former teammate Lourdes Gurriel Jr. He sent a line drive into the back of the 200 level deep in left field.

It was vintage Vlad Jr., a pitch he simply destroyed by showcasing his slugging skill, which has generally been missing this season.

The ball went an estimated 448 feet. The sound off the bat was jarring, registering an exit velocity of 112.1 m.p.h. In his first two at-bats, Vlad Jr. had recorded six total bases.

He would add an RBI single in the seventh inning, leaving Vlad Jr. a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

Two good to be true

The Jays moved Barger up in the order to the No. 2 slot.

He wasted no time in reaching base when he stroked a double in the first inning and came around to score the game’s first run when Vlad Jr. drove in Barger on a double.

Starting in right field, it didn’t take long for Barger to display his cannon for an arm.

Corbin Carroll, who just happens to be among the quickest players in baseball, knew he had to be at his very best when rounding first base on a liner he stroked into right field.

Not once did Carroll break his stride and yet he was almost thrown out at second base.

Had Bo Bichette been able to secure Barger’s bounced throw, Carroll would have been out.

When Bichette failed, the D-backs had their first runner in scoring position.

Carroll would be left stranded.

The Barger-Carroll showdown had a sequel, only this time it involved Carroll going from first to third.

Much like the first, Barger’s throw couldn’t force an out.

It did skip past Ernie Clement at third base and ended in the camera bay. Carroll would score, while Barger was charged an error.

Carnage erupts

Through five innings, the game featured as many batters who were hit by pitches than the teams combined to record hits.

When Jonatan Clase took one flush off his knee, it forced him to leave the game with a contusion.

While Myles Straw, who took Clase’s spot in centre field following the injury, wasn’t felled by a pitch, he, too, was forced to leave the game when Straw crashed into the wall on a ball hit by Josh Naylor, who was Straw’s teammate in Cleveland.

The Mississauga native even headed out to the outfield to check on Straw as did Jays manager John Schneider.

Arizona’s Eugenio Suarez was twice hit by Bassitt.

When Straw was forced to leave the game, the Jays were down by one run, while being down two centre-fielders.

Straw, by the way, left the game by exiting through the door in the centre-field wall that adjoins the Blue Jays bullpen.

Per the club, Straw suffered a right ankle sprain.

Up next

LHP Eric Lauer is scheduled to start for the Blue Jays for Tuesday’s 7:07 p.m. first pitch; his most previous start was in St. Louis where Lauer provided the Jays with 4.1 innings; he earned a no-decision in Toronto’s win; in the nine games Lauer has appeared, the Jays have gone 6-3.