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Francis fires gem, Wagner gets 3 hits in MLB debut as Blue Jays beat Angels 4-2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) ā€” Bowden Francis pitched seven dominant innings and Will Wagner got hits in the first three at-bats of his major-league debut as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Monday night.
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Toronto Blue Jays' Will Wagner, right, hits an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) ā€” Bowden Francis pitched seven dominant innings and Will Wagner got hits in the first three at-bats of his major-league debut as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Monday night.

Leo JimƩnez launched his first career home run and the last-place Blue Jays won the opener of a six-game road trip.

Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell homered for the Angels, who lost for the third time in four games after earning a series win on the road against the New York Yankees.

hit the first pitch he saw into right-centre field for a second-inning double.

ā€œI was nervous on the on-deck circle, but once I was walking to the plate, I just started to gain a little bit more confidence,ā€ Wagner said. ā€œJust go up there and know Iā€™m here for a reason and I was just trying to be aggressive.ā€

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Spencer Horwitz delivered back-to-back doubles in the third to open the scoring. Wagner singled with two outs for his first career RBI and a 2-0 lead.

JimƩnez followed with a two-run shot to centre field, his first homer in 30 games since making his big-league debut on July 4.

In his third at-bat, Wagner rolled a single into right field in the fifth. All three hits to begin his career came against right-hander Davis Daniel (1-4), who gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings with two walks and five strikeouts.

ā€œJust growing up in big-league clubhouses, I kind of know what to expect,ā€ Wagner said. ā€œIt was a nerve-racking day for sure, but once you get that first at-bat out of the way itā€™s all good.ā€

Wagner became the fourth player in Blue Jays history to have three hits in his major-league debut. He finally made his first out on a fly to centre in the seventh.

ā€œItā€™s pretty cool when you have a debut like that. It kind of gives guys some energy,ā€ Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. ā€œLeo with his first homer, really good defence and awesome pitching. I think weā€™re all going to remember Will tonight, but canā€™t overlook what Bowden did.ā€

The only hit Francis (5-3) gave up was Moniakā€™s solo homer in the third. He was otherwise untouchable, with no walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. The right-hander retired his first seven batters and then his last 14.

ā€œI think efficiency was the biggest thing for me,ā€ Francis said. ā€œI just feel like I havenā€™t been scared. Obviously, the home runs happen, but thatā€™s just me attacking it and not being timid. Iā€™m just trying to be in the zone as much as I can.ā€

Chad Green gave up a home run to Adell in the ninth before earning his 12th save.

Billy Wagner was in attendance while on a whirlwind adventure that first had him at triple-A Buffalo over the weekend to watch his son play. After flying home to Virginia on Sunday, he learned of his sonā€™s promotion and boarded a plane for California.

The only hiccup Will Wagner had on the day was forgetting to leave tickets for his fiancƩ and his father.

ā€œMy dad texted me and was like, ā€˜Hey, we still canā€™t get in,'ā€ Will Wagner said. ā€œI was like, ā€˜Oh gosh, I've got to get them tickets.ā€™ But we got it all figured out.ā€

The Blue Jays acquired the younger Wagner in the July 29 trade that sent left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros, where his father spent nine seasons.

ā€œWhen I was at Houston, in big-league camp, we had (Alex) Bregman, (Jeremy) PeƱa and (Jose) Altuve and I would talk to them every day,ā€ Will Wagner said before the game. ā€œAnd I was like, ā€˜These guys are going to be Hall of Famers.ā€™ Now Iā€™m here and I have (Guerrero) and Bo (Bichette) to talk to, too. And there is a mix of guys who are younger that I can fit in with, too. So Iā€™m excited.ā€

TRAINERā€™S ROOM

Blue Jays: Bichette returned to Florida to continue his rehab from a right calf strain and could begin baseball activity by next week. ā€¦ RHP Jordan Romano (elbow) also returned to Florida and is close to beginning a light throwing program.

Angels: C Logan Oā€™Hoppe exited after six innings with right knee soreness and was replaced by Matt Thaiss. Oā€™Hoppe left not long after he threw out Steward Berroa, who was trying to steal second base in the top of the sixth.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (10-8, 4.42 ERA) has reached double digits in wins over four consecutive seasons and six times in total.

Angels: RHP Carson Fulmer (0-2, 3.74) has made five starts this season, with a 3.60 ERA in those outings.

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AP MLB:

Doug Padilla, The Associated Press

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