Jansen hit a three-run homer in the seventh to give the Blue Jays a boost on Monday and sealed the deal with a single to left field in the 11th inning to end Toronto’s three-game losing streak 5-4. come-from-behind win against the Chicago Cubs. The Blue Jays (69-58) won for just the third time in their last 10 home games, this time in front of 26,473 fans at the Rogers Centre. They were swept by the Los Angeles Angels in a three game set over the weekend. “It was a tough weekend, but we turned the page with a new streak,” Jansen said. “On any given night, I just try to go out there and compete and do whatever I can to help the team win. Last Thursday, Jansen hit a solo shot in the sixth inning to give the Blue Jays a 5-4 lead in Boston, a game they eventually won 6-5 in 10 innings. “He’s streaky like we are,” Toronto interim manager John Snyder said of his catcher. “We love what he does behind the plate. He’s a leader with his pitching staff and if he gets hits like that, it’s a bonus.” Down 4-0, the Blue Jays’ comeback began in the seventh inning when Jansen hit a three-run homer and left the field for his 11th of the season. They tied the game one period later. Cavan Biggio doubled down the right field line and scored on Matt Chapman’s single to left. The Cubs (55-74) grabbed an early 2-0 lead with runs in the third and fourth innings. Catcher Wilson Contreras hit Alfonso Rivas with a fielder’s choice in the third, and Seiya Suzuki scored on Nico Hoerner’s single to left in the fourth. PJ Higgins’ double to the gap in left center scored two more runs in the sixth inning. The Blue Jays played better defense than their weekend series against the Angels. Center fielder George Springer hit a diving catch in the fourth off Rafael Ortega. Right fielder Ramiel Tapia threw out Franmil Reyes as he tried to go from first to third on a single in the fifth inning. Also, in the fifth, after Ian Happ struck out but forced a throw to first after the ball hit the dirt, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. returned a throw to Jansen to get Nick Madrigal from third. Toronto starter Jose Berrios, who forced the Blue Jays to redshirt in this game, lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Reliever Tim Mayza gave up the double to Higgins, but Berrios was responsible for both runners scoring. Cubs first baseman Javier Assad , 25, pitched five shutout innings, giving up four hits with two walks and a hit batter in his second career start. Blue Jays reliever Jimi Garcia (3-4) picked up the win, while Mark Leiter Jr. (2-6) took the loss. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION The last time Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins held a media briefing before a home game was when he fired manager Charlie Montoyo and replaced him with Snyder on July 13. Toronto has gone 23-16 under Snyder. Atkins remains confident with crucial games next month against two teams the Blue Jays are battling for one of the three American League wild-card spots. Toronto has nine games against the Tampa Bay Rays and another 10 against the Baltimore Orioles. “We come into September with our destiny in our control with games against teams we compete with,” Atkins said. On Monday, the Blue Jays also claimed Bradley Zimmer off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies. It will be one of two September calls allowed on Thursday. NEXT Cubs starter Marcus Stroman (3-6) returns to Toronto for the first time since the Blue Jays traded him on July 28, 2019. The 31-year-old right-hander will face Kevin Gausman (9-9) on Tuesday. “I can’t wait to go out there and take it all in,” Stroman said, adding that he has nothing but love for the Blue Jays and the city of Toronto. “I am grateful and feel that I am part of Canada in my blood.”
