Addison Barger and Bo Bichette hit back-to-back 9th-inning homers to walk off the Diamondbacks 5-4 on June 18. See how the Jays snapped their losing streak!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it looked like the skid would continue, the top of the order delivered a jolt of pure electricity. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Bo Bichette launched a game-tying solo shot, and just five pitches later, Addison Barger played hero, sending a walk-off homer into the seats to give the Blue Jays a breathtaking 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
I just don't want to play extras. I don't think anybody wants to play extra. So that's all the motivation I really need.
The comeback was as sudden as it was spectacular. After Shelby Miller retired the first batter, Bo Bichette stepped up and annihilated a pitch to tie the game at 4-4. The crowd of 38,537 was still roaring when Addison Barger, in his first-ever start in the two-hole, crushed the game-winner. The dramatic finish was the perfect cap on a day where the offense, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s three-hit, three-RBI performance, refused to quit. 'They came through when we needed them the most,' said starter Chris Bassitt, echoing the sentiment of every fan in the building.
This victory was a crucial pressure release. Snapping a frustrating three-game losing streak, the Jays improved to 39-33, solidifying their hold on a Wild Card spot. They now sit two games clear of the next closest contenders and just four games back of the division-leading Yankees. In a tight AL East race, wins like these, snatched from the jaws of defeat, are what separate contenders from pretenders.
The on-field triumph came on a day of significant off-field moves. The club placed starter Bowden Francis on the 15-day IL with a shoulder injury and designated reliever Erik Swanson for assignment in a surprising shakeup. These moves highlight the pitching challenges the team is facing. To pull out a win with that backdrop shows the resilience of this group, which is piecing together victories even as the front office works to stabilize the staff.
While today's heroes were Bichette and Barger, two other cornerstones need a boost from the fans. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk are in the running for the All-Star Game but need a surge in voting to advance. As fans support the current stars, the future is looking brighter than ever. Top prospect Arjun Nimmala is now considered a Top 50 prospect in all of baseball, while 2024 first-rounder Trey Yesavage is dominating in the low minors. The farm system is ranked as one of the most improved, promising more talent like Barger is on the way.
One dramatic win doesn't make a season, but it can certainly change the mood. This walk-off provides a massive dose of momentum the Blue Jays must now carry forward. With a pitching staff in flux and a tough schedule ahead, they'll need more of the fight and timely hitting they showed tonight to keep climbing the standings. For one night, however, Toronto can celebrate a reminder of just how explosive this team can be.
