Rookie Joey Loperfido hit a home run, Bowden Francis pitched seven scoreless innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Sunday.
Loperfido’s solo homer off Shota Imanaga (9-3) in the second inning was all the Blue Jays needed to end their two-game losing streak.
“To come through for those guys, especially in what ended up a one-run game, it felt good,” said Loperfido, who hit his first home run for the team three weeks after being traded from Houston.
Francis (6-3) matched his longest career outing, which he set six days earlier against the Los Angeles Angels.
He was perfect the first time through the lineup but loaded the bases in the fourth inning. He got out of the jam by striking out Dansby Swanson.
“I luckily got a call there,” said Francis, who came through in a big moment in his seventh career start. “It worked out.”
The right-hander allowed just one other baserunner after that and finished with three hits allowed and seven strikeouts while walking none. He won for the fourth time in six starts.
“He was in total control today,” manager John Schneider said. “Just big pitch after big pitch. You can’t say enough about him.”
Chad Green, the last of three Blue Jays relievers, pitched the ninth inning to complete the shutout and earned his 13th save in as many chances.
Imanaga gave up four hits, walked one, and struck out six in the first five innings. It was his first loss since June 21, ending a streak of nine starts.
“You had to hit a ball really good today to get it out and give (Loperfido) credit, he hit it really good,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after a windy afternoon in the city.
“We just weren’t able to deliver offensively today.”
The crowd of 36,117 gave its loudest cheers to former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould, who led a singalong in the seventh inning with his children.
