Rookies Joey Loperfido and Addison Barger hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-4 comeback win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.
The Blue Jays were trailing 4-3 as they entered the ninth inning against Angels right-hander Roansy Contreras (2-3). Loperfido tied the game with his fourth home run of the season, and Barger then won it with his fourth home run.
Barger’s 439-foot shot was the longest homer of his short career. “It’s surreal, an unbelievable moment,” Barger said.
Loperfido hit his first home run in Toronto since joining the Blue Jays from Houston in a trade last month.
“A really fun way to end the game,” Loperfido said. “For Barger to come through like that with a pretty unbelievable swing, too, it was fun.”
This was the fourth time this season that the Blue Jays hit consecutive home runs and the fourth time they won in their final at-bat.
“Great swing from Joey, great at-bat from Barge,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. Contreras blew his second save opportunity out of four chances.
“Contreras has been good in that situation,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He’s good against lefties. Tonight it just didn’t work out.”
Los Angeles has lost three straight games and 11 of their last 14.
Chad Green (4-3) earned the win for Toronto, working one inning. The Blue Jays have now won five straight games against the Angels.
Los Angeles put a runner at third base with one out in the ninth, but Green retired Logan O’Hoppe and struck out Niko Kavadas.
Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz gave up three runs and seven hits in six-plus innings, leaving the game after Loperfido doubled to start the seventh inning. Kochanowicz did not walk any batters and struck out one.
