Erick Fedde went six strong innings, Josh Harrison hit a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals beat Toronto 8-2 in George Springer鈥檚 Blue Jays debut Wednesday night.
Fedde (2-2) allowed one run and two hits, including a fifth-inning solo homer by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three.
鈥淲ith cutter, sinker, the combination is really good because he works both sides of the plate,鈥� Washington manager Dave Martinez said. 鈥淭oday he threw a lot of curveballs, and it was effective for him as well. When you get can all those pitches in the strike zone as you can see he's real tough to hit.鈥�
Harrison got his third homer in 16 at-bats against Steven Matz (4-1), a three-run shot in the fourth that made it 6-0.
Springer, who signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal this
鈥淗e ran fine, saw a lot of pitches, which is good,鈥� Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said.
Trea Turner had four hits and Josh Bell also homered for the Nationals.
Toronto got an eighth-inning solo homer from Bo Bichette.
Matz, acquired from the New York Mets in January after going 0-5 with a 9.68 ERA last season, had won his first four starts for Toronto. He gave up six runs and eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.
The lefty is 1-8 against Washington. Since the start of last season, Matz has allowed 22 earned runs and eight homers over 14 innings in four games against the Nationals.
鈥淗e just wasn't as sharp today," Montoyo said. 鈥淗e still has the stuff but didn't locate as well.鈥�
Ryan Zimmerman drove in two with a single during a three-run third. Bell hit a two-run homer in the fifth.
Toronto loaded the bases with two outs in the third but failed to score when Turner, at short, fielded Randal Grichuk鈥檚 slow grounder barehanded and threw him out at first.
鈥淚 remember that ball just trickled by me ... you've got to be kidding me,鈥� Fedde said. 鈥淚 think my initial reaction was 鈥極h no, it's bare hand.' Then an unbelievable play.鈥�
Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen went 0 for 3 with a walk. He is hitless in a career-long 34 at-bats.
MORE TO COME
Springer feels that teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn鈥檛 even scratched the surface of what he can become. Guerrero hit three homers and drove in seven runs at the age of 22 years, 42 days in Tuesday鈥檚 9-5 win over Washington to become the youngest player ever with that stat line.
鈥淚 think the most impressive part is a lot of people forget how young he actually is,鈥� Springer said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 starting to understand the things that he can do offensively."
Guerrero went 0 for 3 and was intentionally walked Wednesday.
SUN INFIELD
Blue Jays 3B Joe Panik appeared to lose Zimmerman鈥檚 high-hop single during the first inning in the sun, which was brightly shining just over the low single deck roof at TD Ballpark.
TRAINER鈥橲 ROOM
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (right shoulder) could throw off a bullpen mound this weekend. ... Washington is evaluating if LHP Jon Lester (COVID-19) will pitch next in a big league game or again at the alternate site. He had a bullpen session Wednesday.
Blue Jays: Hyun Jin Ryu (right glute strain) went on the 10-day IL but Montoyo is hopeful the left-hander will miss only one start.
UP NEXT
Nationals: Will face Miami RHP Pablo L贸pez (0-2) on Friday night.
Blue Jays: LHP Robbie Ray (0-1) will start Friday night against Atlanta.
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Mark Didtler, The Associated Press
