The Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette swings for a two-run double in the ninth inning against the Braves in Atlanta on May 13, 2021.Ben Margot/The Associated Press
Bo Bichette and the Toronto Blue Jays are making comeback wins routine.
Bichette hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the ninth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays rallied yet again to beat Atlanta 8-4 on Thursday and sweep six games between the teams this season.
Toronto trailed 2-0 and 4-3 before its 10th comeback win this season and third of the series completed a three-game sweep.
“I think regardless of how we’re playing we should feel like we have a chance,” Bichette said. “We can do special things on offence. I’ve never seen this team give up.”
The sweep left Toronto (20-16) a season-high four games over .500.
Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left in the seventh inning after jamming his left ankle. X-rays were negative and he has not been ruled out of Atlanta’s game at Milwaukee on Friday night.
Danny Jansen, hitting .095, led off the ninth with a single off Will Smith (0-3). Marcus Semien singled, and Bichette doubled to the gap in right-centre for a 6-4 lead.
Bichette drove in three runs on two hits. Cavan Biggio knocked out Smith with his second double of the game to drive in another run.
Travis Bergen (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth. Jordan Romano struck out the side in the ninth after starter Ross Stripling allowed two runs in five innings and had nine strikeouts.
“It seems like if our pitching does the job we’re always going to have a chance, and it was true in every one of these three games,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said.
Acuna led off the game with his major league-high 12th homer, then got hurt while trying to beat out a grounder to third base.
Acuna initially was ruled safe by first base umpire Mike Estabrook before a video review overturned the call. Acuna hopped down the right-field line, then collapsed onto the outfield grass. He was able to walk back to the dugout with a slight limp.
“Those are scary moments for players, especially when they’ve got the torque and force he’s running with,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said.
Smith gave up four runs and five hits in the ninth while recording only one out. The left-hander’s ERA climbed to 5.02.
“Sometimes it happens,” Smith said. “Balls find holes and the inning keeps rolling. It happens.”
Dansby Swanson’s two-run homer in the sixth had given Atlanta a 4-3 lead. The Blue Jays pulled even in the eighth when Biggio’s double drove in Teoscar Hernandez, who walked.
Acuna pulled Stripling’s first pitch, an inside fastball, 442 feet down the left-field foul line. The homer landed near the back of the second level.
Charlie Morton allowed three runs, seven hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. Morton’s exit ended a streak of Atlanta starters pitching at least six innings in four consecutive games and six of eight.