Blue Jays' Bowden Francis: Grabs win in Game 2 of twin bill
Francis (4-2) earned the win in the second game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.
Francis was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo earlier Monday in order to serve as Toronto's starter in the second game of the twin bill. The right-hander gave up three runs on two homers over his first two innings but managed to settle down after that, pitching into the sixth frame and falling one out shy of a quality start. Francis had come out of the bullpen for 13 of his previous 16 big-league outings this season, though he started in four of his six appearances in Triple-A and dominated with a 0.93 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 24:3 K:BB over 19.1 frames. With Yusei Kikuchi traded to Houston on Monday, Francis figures to stick in the rotation, and he's tentatively slated to face the Yankees in New York this weekend.
