The Blue Jays will head into the regular season’s final fortnight on a high, having completed a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with an 11-2 thrashing at the Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles had been one of the hottest teams in the American League heading into the series having won eight of nine, but the Jays outscored them 22-7 over the weekend despite spotting the visitors the first run in all three games.
Jays starter聽Shane Bieber got back on track after allowing eight runs over his last two starts. The right-hander worked six strong innings, with a second-inning solo shot to Coby Mayo the only damage. He gave up just three other hits, walked one and struck out four. The Jays have won four of his five starts.
“Fell behind 1-0 and then was happy to leave it at that,” Bieber said after improving to 3-1. “Once we got out to a two- or three-run lead, it was nice to be able to just go out there and focus on throwing strikes and eating up innings. Never a doubt with this offence.”
That offence was held hitless until Andr茅s Gim茅nez doubled with one out in the third inning.聽George Springer聽immediately doubled him home to tie the game. In the fourth, a two-run double by Ernie Clement聽鈥 off the third-base bag and into the left-field corner聽鈥 put the Jays on top to stay.
“Good aim,” joked Clement. “That’s what it’s all about.”
What it was really all about was a win that capped a 5-1 homestand: against a Houston Astros team that was leading the AL West when it came to town, and an Orioles squad that had handled the Jays very well earlier this season. The homestand, remember, began with shortstop聽Bo Bichette being placed on the injured list.
“When Bo went on the IL, you (media) were asking who needs to step up and the answer was just: everybody,” manager John Schneider said after the game. “I think everyone has done that so far. It’s a unique group ... Even sitting in the dugout 10 minutes before the game and seeing everyone in there, they’re having fun and they’re real tight.
“I’ll steal a line from (bench coach Don Mattingly). It’s like 鈥,鈥 you know what I mean? These guys are just out playing baseball and having fun.”
That closeness聽is meaningful to the players.
“I think that’s the biggest recipe ... for winning the World Series,” said Clement, who had a seventh-inning RBI single to go along with the two-bagger. “We’ve got each other’s backs and we’re all pulling in the same direction.”
The fun ratcheted up a notch when Springer greeted reliever Carson Ragsdale, who was making his major-league debut, with his team-leading 29th home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. The Jays exploded for a half-dozen more in the seventh, all off Ragsdale.
Addison Barger delivered the big blow, a three-run double, in the middle of a frame in which the first seven Jays reached base via hit or walk, starting with Springer’s second double of the day.
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