Toronto lost in extra-innings to visiting Colorado Rockies after starter racked up 10 strikeouts in six shutout innings<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 01, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Any early season observations begin and end with the Blue Jays\u2019 starting pitching, a group that has more arms unavailable than legitimate front-end pitchers.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When the likes of Kevin Gausman, or Dylan Cease \u2014 who was electric in his debut with the club \u2014 and even Max Scherzer, who went six innings to earn the win Tuesday<\/a>, are on the mound it\u2019s assured starting pitching won\u2019t be an issue.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Eric Lauer has chipped in, even though the lefty wasn\u2019t even in the club\u2019s starting rotation plans until the injury bug began to take its toll.<\/p>\n The Colorado Rockies didn\u2019t record their first hit off Gausman on Wednesday until the fifth inning.<\/p>\n The winner of Wednesday\u2019s rubber match wasn\u2019t determined until the late innings, almost pushing Gausman\u2019s start to the backburner.<\/p>\n The fact is he was very good and no one should lose sight of Gausman\u2019s performance. Equally factual was the Jays\u2019 2-1 loss to the Rockies in 10 innings as Toronto completed a 4-2 homestand to begin the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A beleaguered Brendon Little<\/a> gave up the winning run and would be tagged with the loss.<\/p>\n What happened in extra innings?<\/p>\n The Jays had the top of the order in the home half of the 10th inning, which began on a George Springer pop out in foul territory.<\/p>\n Nathan Lukes grounded out to advance the ghost runner to third then up stepped Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose lineout to centre field ended the game.<\/p>\n Gausman was in complete control, even though the Jays weren\u2019t in control of the afternoon, their biggest issue being an inability to cash in runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n Gausman went six complete innings, an outing featuring 10 strikeouts<\/a>, zero walks and two hits surrendered.<\/p>\n Ultimately, he would earn a no-decision on a day he deserved much better.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Colorado tied the game in the eighth inning, a frame reliever Tommy Nance would soon like to forget.<\/p>\n Mind you, he would be bailed out when Mason Fluharty was summoned from the bullpen and promptly recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end an inning that could have easily gone sideways.<\/p>\n In the ninth, Jeff Hoffman was on the mound and was untouchable, striking out the side on 16 pitches.<\/p>\n For the most part, Toronto\u2019s bats fell silent. Davis Schneider\u2019s third-inning RBI single opened the scoring, but more runs should have crossed home plate.<\/p>\n It was up to Gausman to keep the Rockies at bay, a team that\u2019s a far cry from last season\u2019s edition when the Jays visited Coors Field and outscored Colorado 45-6 in a historical series sweep.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n No series sweep at Rogers Centre, where school day at the ballpark attracted an announced crowd of 37,208.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Max Scherzer’s quality outing, timely hitting, leads to win over Rockies<\/p>\n <\/a> What can be done with Brendon Little, the pitcher Blue Jays fans love to hate?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The series rubber match was by far the most competitive.<\/p>\n The go-go Jays were on full display in the home of the third inning when they opened the scoring.<\/p>\n When Schneider hit an opposite-field single, it scored Myles Straw. George Springer, meanwhile, went from first to third, capped off by an adroit slide into the bag to avoid the tag. Schneider took second on the throw.<\/p>\n What is going on with Cody Ponce?<\/p>\n![\"Colorado](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0402-blue-jays-colorado-rockies-steal.jpg\")
Colorado Rockies\u2019 Jake McCarthy steals second base as Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andr\u00e9s Gim\u00e9nez tries to make the tag during Wednesday\u2019s game. The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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