Brendon Little's costly 10th-inning pitch seals Blue Jays' loss to Rockies
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brendon Little suffered a tough loss in the team's 2-1 defeat to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The left-hander entered a tied game in extra innings but gave up the decisive hit. Despite the setback, manager John Schneider reaffirmed his trust in the pitcher.
Little took the mound in the top of the 10th inning with the score knotted at 1-1. He quickly faced trouble, surrendering a line-drive single to Tyler Freeman that drove in the go-ahead run. The hit sealed the Rockies' victory and left Little as the pitcher of record in the loss.
After the game-winning play, Little regrouped and retired three of the next four batters he faced. Earlier in the at-bat, a close pitch—measured just 0.1 millimetres outside the zone by the automated ball-strike system—kept the hitter alive. The call extended the plate appearance, ultimately leading to Freeman's hit. Starter Kevin Gausman had set the stage with a strong outing, striking out 10 over six scoreless innings. Little's struggles contrasted with Gausman's dominance, as the reliever had already allowed seven runs in his first two appearances of the season. Despite the rough patch, Schneider dismissed any suggestion of sending Little down to the minors. He stressed that the lefty remains a key part of the bullpen and that all players must work through difficult stretches.
Little's early-season struggles continue, with his ERA rising after Wednesday's outing. The Blue Jays, however, have shown no signs of losing faith in him. His role in the bullpen remains secure as the team looks ahead to its next games.
