Blue Jays' Bieber struggles through 'worst' outing, walks 6 in two-thirds of an inning vs. Nats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Toronto pitcher Shane Bieber’s start against the Washington Nationals was anything but a walk in the park.

The former Cy Young Award winner issued walks to six of the nine batters he faced — including three with the bases loaded — before departing after two-thirds of an inning Tuesday night in the Blue Jays' 8-6 loss. In his previous 149 pitching appearances, the 31-year-old right-hander's high for walks was five.

According to Stathead/Baseball Reference, Bieber is the 11th pitcher in major league history to walk at least six while recording two outs or less, and the first to do so since Florida’s Ryan Dempster on Oct. 5, 2001, at Atlanta.

Bieber said he had difficulty gripping the ball and struggled with his command as a result. Bieber didn't walk anyone in his previous start Thursday, when he allowed one run in seven innings against Tampa Bay.

“You have to find a way to get through it, right, and I wasn't able to do that tonight,” Bieber said. “Ultimately, I follow up what was maybe my best start as a Blue Jay with what was definitely my worst.”

Bieber is the first Cy Young winner to have such an outing, although Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Christy Mathewson did, too. Bieber won the AL Cy Young in 2020.

Bieber threw 42 pitches, with only 15 strikes. He is the second player this season to throw that many pitches with so few strikes. Kansas City’s Eric Cerantola threw 14 strikes in a 42-pitch relief outing against Tampa Bay on June 30.

“I have no excuses,” Bieber said. “I have to find a way to get out of that first inning. Dry my hands off and change shirts and eat up innings after that. That's what I was trying to do and unfortunately I wasn't able to. I don't think I've ever had anything like that happen.”

Washington’s James Wood led off the first with a walk, and Luis García Jr. followed with a grounder to second. Dylan Crews then earned a free pass, and CJ Abrams followed with a well-placed infield single.

The typically free-swinging Keibert Ruiz followed with a four-pitch walk that scored the first run, and Daylen Lile drew another walk that pushed in another run. Nasim Nuñez hit a sacrifice fly before Jorbit Vivas loaded the bases again with the inning's fifth walk, prompting a mound visit from Toronto pitching coach Pete Walker.

Jacob Young then took six pitches --- three balls and then two called strikes followed by a slider well outside the zone --- to force in a fourth run. That prompted manager John Schneider to head to the mound and end Bieber’s outing.

It was Bieber's seventh start of the season after missing almost three months with elbow inflammation. He was limited to a combined nine regular-season starts over the previous two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024.

“Kind of just the last thing we thought was going to happen with him right there,” Schneider said. “When you get up to that pitch count in the first, with him, with his history and everything, just didn't want to push it.”

Reliever Brendon Little got Wood to ground out to end the inning.

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Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber, left, throws to Washington Nationals' Jorbit Vivas, right, during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews, left, goes towards home to score on a bases loaded walk to Daylen Lile against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber, right, during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber, center, is pulled by manager John Schneider, left, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber walks back to the dugout after he was pulled from a baseball game in the first inning against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber walks back to the dugout after he was pulled from a baseball game in the first inning against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

CHICAGO (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched six shutout innings of four-hit ball and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Tuesday night for their fifth victory in six games.

Anthony Volpe hit an RBI double in the second and scored on Max Schuemann's two-run double as the Yankees (61-46) moved within 1 1/2 games of AL East-leading Tampa Bay. Jasson Domínguez had two hits and reached base three times.

Chase Meidroth hit a two-run homer off New York closer David Bednar with two outs in the ninth. Bednar then struck out ex-Yankee Everson Pereira for his 22nd save.

The White Sox have lost four of five, including two consecutive games to New York. Chicago's lead over second-place Cleveland in the tight AL Central slipped to 1 1/2 games.

Cole (4-5) was dominant in his 12th start since coming back May 22 from Tommy John surgery. The six-time All-Star right-hander struck out seven and walked two.

The White Sox threatened Cole only in the fourth, when Munetaka Murakami doubled and Cole issued two walks to load the bases before Tristan Peters popped out to end the inning.

Anthony Kay (7-5) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out seven.

In the second, Volpe’s run-scoring double went off Peters’ glove as the center fielder jumped high at the wall. Schuemann knocked in two more runs when he bounced a grounder high over third base.

Cole helped himself by making a circus catch on Colson Montgomery’s high popup for the first out of the second inning.

Yankees infielders Amed Rosario and Volpe raced in for the ball. New York catcher Austin Wells came out and bumped into Cole, but the right-hander fully extended his left hand and snared the popup with his glove in front of the mound. Cole stumbled and the ball flipped up in the air, but he caught it with his bare hand.

Murakami has reached base safely in a career-best 14 straight games since he was reinstated from the injured list July 10.

Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.07 ERA) faces White Sox RHP Davis Martin (9-5, 3.49) on Wednesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago White Sox starter Anthony Kay delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters misses a two-run double hit by New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe during the second inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe watches his two-run double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)