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Yusei Kikuchi and Four Blue Jays Relievers Combine for a Shutout Against Marlins

Toronto southpaw starter Yusei Kikuchi pitched six scoreless innings, held Miami to two hits and struck out six batters in a strong pitching performance.

Published

11 months ago

June 21, 2023

Ed Odeven

Toronto Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi pitches against the Miami Marlins on June 20 at loanDePot Park in Miami. (KYODO)

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Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and Miami Marlins rookie Eury Perez were locked in a classic pitchers' duel on Tuesday, June 20.

Both starters worked six scoreless innings in the middle game of a three-game series in Miami. Then it was decided after both men were replaced by relievers.

The Blue Jays' Ernie Clement and George Springer delivered back-to-back, one-out RBI singles in the top of the eighth inning off Tanner Scott (4-2), giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Neither team scored the rest of the way.

Blue Jays Bounce Back

Toronto dropped the series opener 11-0 on Monday at loanDepot Park, where the 2023 World Baseball Classic final was held in March.

Since improving to 6-2 on the season on May 30 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Kikuchi hasn't been a pitcher of record in four straight starts. In his three previous starts, he pitched five innings (twice, against the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins) and 4⅔ innings against the Baltimore Orioles on June 15.

Kikuchi, who pitched 1-2-3 innings in the first, second and third, held the Marlins to two hits and struck out six. He didn't walk a batter in his 87-pitch outing.

Perez, a 20-year-old Dominican rookie, gave up three hits and fanned nine. He didn't issue a walk.

Marlins leadoff hitter Luis Arraez, who's in his fifth season in the majors, entered the game with an MLB-best .400 batting average. The Venezuelan second baseman faced Kikuchi three times on Tuesday. He grounded out to second in the first inning before singling to left in the fourth. Arraez then grounded out to second to end the sixth.

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Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.