T.J. Zeuch allowed two runs in his Major League debut, but the bats were unable to provide enough run support as the Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Tuesday night.
Zeuch (0-0) was a mixed bag in his first taste of MLB action, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings of work.
The Jays’ 2016 first-round pick held the Braves scoreless over his first three innings, scattering just two singles.
Atlanta got to Zeuch in the fifth, forcing the rookie out of the game following a 25-pitch inning. Josh Donaldson punctuated the frame by smacking a double off the wall in left field, driving in two runs, and opening a 4-0 lead.
Toronto (55-85) is now 3-7 over its last 10 games, including three-straight losses. Rowdy Tellez went 1-for-4 with his 17th home run of the season. He now has a home run in two-straight games following his pinch-hit home run on Monday night.
Wilmer Font (3-4) acted as the opener for the Blue Jays, allowing four hits and two runs over his lone inning of work. The Braves jumped on him right away, collecting four straight hits to start the game, opening an early 2-0 lead.
It was a rare hiccup for Font, who had a 1.56 ERA over 17.1 innings since becoming the opener.
Mike Foltynewicz (5-5) earned the win for Atlanta, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Since being recalled from the minors, Foltynewicz has gone 3-0 with a 3.35 ERA in six starts.
Donaldson led the offence for the Braves, going 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI.
Atlanta (86-54) now has a 6.5 game lead over the Washington Nationals for first in the NL East.
Tellez got Toronto on the board in the seventh inning blasting a lead-off home run over the wall in right field to bring the score to 4-1.
Teoscar Hernandez brought the Jays to within two runs later in the frame, hitting an RBI double that hopped off the glove of Ronald Acuna in centre field.
Tyler Flowers put the game away in the eighth, hitting a bases-loaded double to centre off of reliever Tim Mayza to push the lead to 7-2.
The Blue Jays will rest Wednesday before opening a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Trent Thornton (4-9, 5.34 ERA) will start for Toronto. The Rays will counter with Austin Pruitt (2-0, 4.78 ERA).
Notes: Zeuch made his MLB debut after going 4-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 13 starts in Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto also added Anthony Alford, Jonathan Davis, and Richard Urena to the roster on Tuesday. No. 4 prospect Anthony Kay will join the team this weekend in Tampa Bay, where he is expected to make his first MLB start.