Blue turns to relief for Guerrero, Blue Jays after streak-busting win
TORONTO — blue shifted from frustration to relief Wednesday night as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays closed out a streak-busting win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Guerrero lifted his arms to the sky after the final out, then joined his teammates for handshakes after a game that followed a difficult loss the night before. The Blue Jays had spent the previous night staring at a sixth straight defeat, but Wednesday brought a much-needed reset in front of a home crowd.
A hard week ends with a hard-earned win
The Blue Jays won despite a messy box score and several tense moments on the bases. An error led to a run, and the club also came up short in key spots, finishing with another rough night with runners on. But the decisive swing came in the eighth inning, when Davis Schneider went first to third on an Andrés Giménez grounder and Giménez then stole second, setting up a throwing error by Will Smith that allowed the winning run to score.
Toronto also stayed aggressive even after a costly mistake by Guerrero in the sixth inning. After his leadoff double, he broke for third on a Jesús Sánchez grounder in front of him and was thrown out when Miguel Rojas ranged to his right and fired to third. Guerrero later said it was a learning moment and noted that the next time the better choice may be to retreat and then advance.
Guerrero describes the mental reset
Guerrero said his reaction after the final out was simple: giving thanks. He also said Tuesday night’s loss had left him thinking about how the team could beat the Dodgers, and how he could help the group improve. He added that rather than letting frustration carry over, he chose to relax in the dugout, sort through the moment, and return ready to contribute.
That approach showed up at the plate on Wednesday. Guerrero reached base three times in four trips, including a walk in the seventh after George Springer’s RBI double and Daulton Varsho’s run-scoring single tied the game at 3-3. He said he stayed disciplined in that at-bat and focused on getting a pitch he could handle.
Blue Jays keep pressing in a long season
Wednesday’s result did not erase the early-season concerns. The Blue Jays were still dealing with baserunning mistakes and missed chances with runners in scoring position, but the tone after the game was unmistakably lighter. The win gave the club a break before returning fresh on Friday, and Guerrero said the group has to keep improving, especially him.
Jeff Hoffman finished off the Dodgers lineup to secure the save, giving Toronto a late stop that matched the energy of the comeback. His early numbers have been uneven, but this night ended with the kind of final frame the Blue Jays needed.
What comes next
The Blue Jays now get a day off before returning on Friday, with the relief from this blue moment likely to last only if they build on it. For Guerrero and the club, the task is clear: turn one hard-fought win into a steadier stretch, and make sure blue does not become a brief reaction to a bigger problem.
