After taking three of four from Cleveland its time for Blue Jays to make statement against Red Sox
Author of the article:
Rob Longley
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) is greeted at home plate by Vladimir Guererro Jr. after hitting a two run home run against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre. Photo by Dan Hamilton /USA TODAY Sports Article content On a Blue Jays team stacked with potential but still with much left to do, the first of what could be many big series down the stretch has arrived.
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Article contentAfter a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night at the Rogers Centre, the Red Sox are due to arrive for a four-game weekend set beginning on Friday.
It may not be a series that decides the Jays’ fate, but it will be a telling tale of where the team fits in the early stages of what is starting to project as a compelling stretch drive.
Can the revamped Jays rotation hold up against a division rival well above them â€" although a margin that is rapidly narrowing â€" in the standings?
Can the bullpen get through a clutch series without wobbling and become a consistent strength rather than a question mark?
And can the electric offence produce against a Red Sox team that won’t have as vocal support as it did as the visiting team in Buffalo and will be living under a modified quarantine in Toronto?
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Article contentPlayers will never place too much emphasis on a series in August, but now settled at home and poised to make its biggest winning run of the season to date, you can bet players are well aware of the looming significance.
“Of course,†Jays second baseman Marcus Semien said when asked about the conclusion of the first home stand here in almost two years. “Now you start to look at the standings a little more. I know we’re not in September yet and we don’t want to look at the standings every day, but we do know that we can gain ground if we get a win playing the team that you are chasing.â€
Manager Charlie Montoyo and his staff certainly are treating the series with the respect it brings, manipulating the rotation to have their four best ready for the Red Sox. Alek Manoah will get it started on Friday followed by Robbie Ray and newcomer Jose Berrios for Saturday’s split doubleheader, leaving Hyun-Jin Ryu to finish things up on Sunday.
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Article content“Obviously we know who we’re playing. We’re fully aware of that,†said Thursday’s starter Ross Stripling, who threw six shutout innings at the Indians. “But it’s business as usual and understanding we’re back at the Rogers Centre. We love playing here and we have a huge advantage.
“Let’s keep that going and don’t worry about who is in the other dugout.â€
Adding to the emphasis on the weekend’s series is the fact that the Jays are catching up to their division rival, a task helped by taking three of four from visiting Cleveland.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, have faltered of late, losing seven of their past 10, including an 8-1 drubbing to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
That slide has ceded the AL East lead to to the Rays and has brought both the Jays and Yankees into shouting distance of Boston, which is now just five games up on the Jays.
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The trick for the Jays will be to turn what has been a decent run since returning to Toronto into a sustained one.
There’s no denying the Jays are heating up, however. Winners of eight of their past 10, they’ve improved their record to 57-49. Getting to eight games above .500 has been a long time in the making, a place they haven’t been since ending the 2016 season at 89-73.
Still, the Jays are well aware that to get into the post-season, it will take more than a seven-game hot streak. So is there a lengthy streak coming?
“I’ve been saying all along that I believe we can make a run,†said shortstop Bo Bichette, who drove in all three runs on Thursday, a pair of them on his 20th homer of the season. “Nothing changes. Try to win every game every day.â€
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Article contentSTART ’EM UP
The Jays rotation may have some depth in it now, but Thursday’s starter Ross Stripling has no intention of vacating it.
The righty was sharp again on Thursday, throwing six shutout innings at the Indians and allowing just three hits. In 11.1 innings at the Rogers Centre this season, Stripling has allowed just two runs and seven hits and has a pair of wins to his credit.
With the rotation bolstered by the addition of Berrios at the trade deadline, it was thought that Stripling would be the leading candidate to move to the bullpen as the long man.
At the least, his two most recent outings have given Montoyo something to think about.
“I consider myself a starter and I feel like my arsenal fits as a starter, but this is crunch time,†Stripling said. “It’s about winning ball games now. If you’re throwing the ball well, they’re going to get you innings.
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Article content“I’ll take the ball whenever they give it to me. It’s a good problem to have.â€
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GAME ON
The Jays got on the board first in the fourth inning when Bichette crushed a ball over the wall in left, bringing home Vlad Guerrero Jr., whose earlier single was the first hit of the game by either team … Bichette continued to inflict damage on Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie, belting out a two-out single in the sixth to bring home Semien and increase the Jays lead to 3-0 … It was a stress-free night for the Jays bullpen, which went from Trevor Richards to Tim Mayza to Adam Cimber, who shut things down in the ninth inning to earn his first save … Stripling took a no-hitter into the fifth to help led the Jays to their ninth shutout win of the season … During the first seven games of the homestand, Toronto starters have combined for a 1.25 ERA.
rlongley@postmedia.com
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