Blue Jays Nip Cubs in Tight One at Rogers Centre

TORONTO — Rogers Centre was buzzing before first pitch. Roof open. Sun pouring in through the west side windows. Smell of hot dogs and burnt popcorn drifting up to the press box. Couple of Cubs fans in Seiya Suzuki jerseys waving at Guerrero during BP — he didn’t wave back.

Berríos threw strike one at 7:07. Loud cheer. Two pitches later, Suzuki lined out and a guy behind home plate muttered, “Well, that was quick.” Pretty much the pace early — both starters working fast.

Ben Brown, the Cubs rookie, didn’t look fazed. Five strikeouts first time through, even froze Vladdy with a backdoor slider in the first. Fans groaned. Someone banged on the plexiglass.

Fourth inning — no more freezing. Guerrero got a hanger and sent it halfway to Union Station. Measured at 417 feet, but it felt further. Vladdy slowed down rounding third, grinning like he’d been waiting all week for that pitch.

Sixth inning, Cubs finally crack back. Hoerner grinds through a nine-pitch AB (seriously, fouled off everything) and drops a double into the gap. Suzuki wastes no time — single up the middle, 1–1 game, and a fist pump toward the visitors’ dugout. The Cubs section let him hear it.

Eighth inning, trouble. Mason Fluharty walks Tucker to start, and you can feel a little edge in the crowd. Then… strikeout, double play, inning over. Fluharty yells into his glove — not a polite yell.

Bottom half, Bichette does what Bichette does. Little blooper into no-man’s land. Tucker runs in, Suzuki runs in, Hoerner’s sprinting back… nobody gets it. Biggio scores. Crowd roars. Cubs fans groan in unison.

Romano in the ninth — three up, three down, all strikeouts. Fastballs, sliders, pick your poison. Jays win 2–1.

Lines:

W: Fluharty (3–1)
L: Brown (6–8)
SV: Romano (29)

Notes from the box:

• Vladdy’s homer was his 22nd.

• Cubs now 3–6 in their last nine.

• Rogers Centre crowd listed at 39,812 — felt louder.

Game 2 Wednesday night: Justin Steele vs. Kevin Gausman. First pitch 7:07, and if the noise tonight is anything to go by, bring earplugs.