TORONTO — Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and the Cincinnati Reds held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep.
Votto, who is from suburban Toronto, went deep for the fourth time in 12 career games at Rogers Centre.
The one-out solo drive to right field off Yimi Garcia (0-3) was Votto’s first home run of the season, and his third extra-base hit in three games since being activated off the injured list following a bout with COVID-19.
“Of course it’s great to be back here,” Votto said. “Playing in this city has great meaning to me, but I’m so locked in on performing well that, whether it’s here or elsewhere, I’m dialed in on making sure I perform well.”
Red manager David Bell said he “couldn’t be happier” to see Votto come up big north of the border.
“Being around him every day, I know how meaningful it is for him to do good things here in his hometown, but also how important it is for him to be a great player, to be a contributing player and to help us win a game,” Bell said.
The one-run win was the second of the season for the Reds. Cincinnati has won nine of 15 following a 3-22 start.
Toronto failed to complete a sweep after winning the first two games of a series for the fourth time this season and the second time this homestand. The Blue Jays dropped last Wednesday’s series finale to Seattle after victories Monday and Tuesday.
Toronto is 22-19 but has scored 147 runs, ahead of only last-place Baltimore (140) in the AL East.
“The positive is we have been winning games without our offense being where it was expected to be,” manager Charlie Montoyo said.
Alexis Diaz (2-0) worked two scoreless innings and Art Warren finished for his second save in four chances.
Making his major league debut in place of right-hander Connor Overton (back), Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft allowed two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Ashcraft’s first pitch…