Semien HR, Blue Jays sweep Braves 7-2; Springer exits early

<p>DUNEDIN, Fla. &mdash; Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs as Toronto finished off a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves with a 7-2 win Sunday after Blue Jays newcomer George Springer exited early.</p>
<p>There was no immediate announcement on why Joe Panik pinch-hit for Springer in the sixth inning.</p>
<p>Springer was the designated hitter for the fourth consecutive game since making his Toronto debut Wednesday. The World Series MVP when Houston won its first title in 2017 signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal with the Blue Jays this offseason but missed time because of a strained oblique and later because of a right quadriceps strain.</p>
<p>Semien hit a two-run homer during a three-run eighth to help Toronto win for the seventh time in nine games.</p>
<p>Braves starter Ian Anderson (2-1) lasted just four innings, allowing four runs and six hits during an 89-pitch outing.</p>
<p>Anderson was coming off wins against the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs in which he allowed five hits in 13 2/3 scoreless innings. The right-hander limited the Cubs to one hit over seven innings on April 27.</p>
<p>Danny Jansen, hitless in his previous 35 at-bats, had an RBI single in the second and Semien’s two-run double in the third put Toronto up 3-1.</p>
<p>Jansen also singled in the fourth and scored to make it 4-1 on Bo Bichette’s double.</p>
<p>Ronald Acuña Jr. got Atlanta with 4-2 in the fifth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to the center-field warning track off Ross Stripling.</p>
<p>Ryan Borucki (3-1) replaced Stripling and prevented further damage by striking out Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna.</p>
<p>Stripling, coming back from a right forearm flexor strain, gave up two runs and five hits over 4 1/3 innings.</p>
<p>Rafael Dolis entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth and struck out Acuña to get his third save.</p>
<p>William Contreras, recalled from the alternate site after the Braves put catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Alex Jackson on the injured list, had an RBI single in the second.</p>
<p>SUNDAY BLUES</p>
<p>The Braves are 1-5 on Sunday. Atlanta went 44-18 (.710) on Sunday from 2018- 2020, one of just two teams in baseball to win 70 percent of their Sunday games in that span. .The Los Angeles Dodgers went 48-16 (.750).</p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Braves: D’Arnaud went on the 60-day IL with a left thumb sprain after getting hurt Saturday night on a tag play at the plate. Jackson was placed on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. </p>
<p>Blue Jays: C Alejandro Kirk (left flexor strain), LHP Tommy Milone (left shoulder inflammation), and RHP Anthony Castro (right forearm strain) were placed on 10-day IL.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Braves: Open a three-game series at Washington on Tuesday night. RHP Huascar Ynoa (2-1) will face RHP Joe Ross (2-1).</p>
<p>Blue Jays: Start a 10-game, 11-day road trip through three different time zones Monday night in Oakland. LHP Steven Matz (4-1) and Athletics RHP Frankie Montas (2-2) are the starters. Toronto will also make stops in Houston and Atlanta.</p>
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