Toronto's 31-Hit Nightmare in 1992 Preceded World Series Glory

On Aug. 28, 1992, the Blue Jays allowed an American League-record 31 hits in a 22-2 loss to the Brewers at SkyDome, using six pitchers to get through the game. Despite the blowout, Toronto rebounded to win 96 games and capture its first World Series title that fall. The defeat came shortly after acquiring David Cone, who later posted a 2.55 ERA for the team.
The game's sheer scale was staggering even by blowout standards. Milwaukee scored in seven of nine innings, and the 31-hit total stood as an American League record for a nine-inning contest. Toronto's bullpen was stretched to its limit, with six pitchers summoned just to reach the final out before a crowd exceeding 50,000.
The defeat arrived days after Toronto acquired David Cone from the Mets, sending Jeff Kent and Ryan Thompson to New York in return. Cone was relegated to charting pitches that night but rebounded with a 2.55 ERA over eight starts. The Blue Jays went 24-11 with him on the roster and ultimately defeated Atlanta in six games for their first championship.
This story could resonate with baseball fans as a reminder that a single disastrous regular