Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement punishes Dodgers’ major mistake in massive Toronto moment originally appeared on The Sporting News
Don’t put in a left-handed pitcher to face Ernie Clement.
Just don’t do it.
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He showed what happens when you do.
Leading off the top of the ninth for the Toronto Blue Jays in a tie game in Los Angeles, Clement crushed the first pitch he saw beyond the left-field fence to take the lead against the Dodgers.
The lefty-masher strikes again.
Clement entered the day with a .936 OPS against southpaws. That’s higher now.
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Toronto had already come from behind earlier in the game, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Addison Barger delivered the tying and go-ahead homers, respectively.
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The Dodgers came back to tie it up, though, setting the stage for Clement’s heroics to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth. And the Toronto bullpen pulled off a great escape to hold on for the big win in the battle of division leaders.
Clement had also homered Saturday night, that one a meaningless long ball with the Blue Jays down big, but it apparently kept his swing in a groove for this key spot.
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Clement is having a special season. He had a five-hit game earlier this week.
And now, he has this clutch homer on the road at Dodger Stadium.
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It should teach future opposition a lesson. If you throw a lefty against Clement, it may get punished.
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