Latest news with #Jays'
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Ernie Clement and the Blue Jays beat up on Athletics again
Article content Addison Barger also went deep in Friday's victory while Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes also had two hits apiece as the bottom four in the order went a combined 9-for-16 with nine runs scored, two homers and five RBIs. The following are three takeaways on a night the Blue Jays would score three runs in three different innings to win their third in a row. 1. Run of the mill The Rogers Centre roof was half-open or half-closed, depending on one's perspective. One could draw a similar comparison to the Blue Jays. It's hard to judge this lineup when the opposition is as poor as the A's. Still, the bottom line is the Jays' bats have flourished in two games, beginning with Thursday night's win when 18 hits produced 12 runs. The hitting frenzy carried over into Friday when 15 hits were recorded and every starter in the lineup produced at least one. 2. Canada Day
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bo Bichette's pinch-hit blast in ninth lifts low-scoring Jays to improbable series win over host Texas
If a 0-0 tie were even permitted in baseball, the Blue Jays and Rangers were certainly more than qualified to produce such an outcome. Neither team can hit, nor has shown any penchant for consistently putting up runs recently, and yet one team had to take Wednesday's series rubber match in Arlington because the rules dictate a winner must be established. In a weird way, these two offensively challenged teams did create some drama the deeper the night went and the longer the game remained scoreless. The dramatics only intensified when Bo Bichette — who was not in the Jays' starting lineup because of back tightness and was labelled day-to-day by manager John Schneider — came off the bench as a surprise pinch-hitter in the ninth inning with two out and Ernie Clement on second base. Bichette looked at a called first strike, then launched right-hander Jacob Webb's changeup deep to left field to account for all of the scoring and helped the Jays salvage something from a 2-4 road trip that saw them produce all of six runs in six games, including two shutout losses. The night's other compelling story involved the Jays' pitching, a combined bullpen effort that yielded only one hit — a single by Josh Smith leading off the first inning.. Three takeaways as the Jays took two of three in Texas: Since he hit his most recent homer on May 11 in Seattle as the Jays capped off a series sweep of the Mariners, George Springer has recorded three extra-base hits, including one in Tuesday's loss at Globe Life Field. No one was expecting the veteran to sustain his early-season revival, but something more needs to be extracted from Springer, who isn't the only player on the roster in need of an offensive bump. In manager John Schneider's re-imagined lineup, Springer batted cleanup in the series finale, an order that had Daulton Varsho leading off in place of Bichette, Anthony Santander batting second followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the No. 3 hole. Vladdy was the lone hitter in the Jays' top of the order to produce a hit, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. The remaining members combined for six strikeouts. A tip of the hat for those who had the battery of Paxton Schultz and Ali Sanchez on their scorecard — ever — when the season began. No one could have envisioned such an improbable pitcher-catcher tandem and yet there was the right-hander Schultz making his first big-league start, while Sanchez was making his second-career start after making his debut during Sunday's bloodbath in Tampa. Schultz began his outing by yielding the leadoff single to Smith. Credit to Schultz in how he attacks hitters and pitches with a certain swagger by wasting so little time between pitches. He struck out Corey Seager, a two-time World Series MVP who had just been reinstated by Texas following the shortstop's second stint on the injured list because of a right hamstring strain, and ended the first inning by striking out Josh Jung. Schultz did require 22 pitches to retire the side in the first, and began the second with his third K in a row. And once he got through the order once, retiring No. 9 hitter Kyle Higashioka, his night ended. In total, Schultz retired eight in a row and provided the Jays with precisely what they needed as an opener. Lefty Eric Lauer then did his part in matching Schultz by retiring eight batters in a row. The very definition of a leadoff hitter is to get on base and set an early tempo. Bichette has filled the role this season, even though his aggressive style isn't conducive to the role. Varsho might be the antithesis of a leadoff hitter given his woeful on-base percentage. Paradoxically, though, he drew a walk to lead off the game — his fourth base on balls this season — but then proceeded to strike out in each of his next three at-bats. To recap, he doesn't get on base with any frequency and he strikes out far too frequently, exactly what is required from the leadoff spot. The relocated Athletics come to town for a four-game series beginning Thursday night … The Sacramento-based A's have dropped 12 of their past 13 games and at 23-33 sit last in the AL West, but sport a .500 road record (14-14) … RHP Jose Berrios (1-2, 4.22 ERA) gets the start for the Jays. He is coming off a loss in Tampa following seven successive no-decisions. His most recent win came way back on April 7.
Edmonton Journal
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Blue Jays' offence reverts to its inoffensive ways in loss to host Tampa Bay Rays
Article content Both teams played well defensively. Offensively, Tampa needed two swings to produce its three runs. The following are three takeaways in the wake of a Jays' 3-1 loss to an AL East rival that dropped Toronto's record to 25-25, while Tampa improved to 24-26. 1. BOTTOMS UP The Jays entered the night one game above .500 for the first time in a month for a variety of reasons. One of the most understated areas involves the team's bottom of the order, a collection of utility players who have, to their credit, stepped up in big moments. Nathan Lukes immediately comes to mind. A day after producing the game-winning hit, Lukes ran into an out at second base. The fact he even reached base speaks to how well Lukes has been swinging the bat. The fact he was thrown out highlighted a recurring team deficiency. Of the Jays' four hits, three came from the team's bottom of the order, which consisted of Ernie Clement, Jonatan Clase, who had a double, and Lukes.
National Post
30-04-2025
- Sport
- National Post
GOTTA SEE IT: Daulton Varsho makes spectacular snag in Blue Jays return
What was Daulton Varsho thinking when what was shaping up as a routine fly ball turned into an embarrassing trip over his own feet and tumble to the Rogers Centre warning track? Article content Article content 'I said a profanity word,' a sheepish Varsho said after an eventful play in his first game of the 2025 season following a long winter and spring recovering from shoulder surgery. 'But then I was like, 'all right, where's the ball?' (Then) just trying to do everything I can try to catch it.' Article content And what a catch it was on Tuesday night for the Jays reigning American League Gold Glove winning centre fielder, a circus-quality grab likely destined to be highlight-reel magic for decades to come. Article content A player renowned for making spectacular plays at, up and sometimes almost through the outfield wall, Varsho went from potential calamity to outrageous acrobatics in retiring Boston Red Sox leadoff hitter Jarren Duran with his fourth-inning stunner. Article content Tracking the loud fly ball to the centre-field wall, Varsho tripped over his own feet, landing on his rear end. But sublime fielder that he is, Varsho kept his eye on the ball and made the back-handed snag to record the out. Article content 'When Varsh fell, you immediately say 'Don't fall on your shoulder,'' manager John Schneider said of the play, a rare highlight in the Jays' demoralizing 10-2 loss to the Sox. 'And then you watch him catch it, you go, 'Man, you're really good.' That was really cool. You kind of just shake your head. He's the best out there.' Article content Article content Varsho has been known for his spectacular plays throughout his career and his popular presence in the Jays clubhouse certainly was electric in his return. And the stunning play came at a welcome time for a Rogers Centre crowd of 28,045 still stunned from the five-run homer barrage already unleashed by the Bosox. Article content 'Obviously it's one of these plays where you're normally camped underneath it and able to catch it,' Varsho said. 'I tripped myself up on the turf and saw the ball at the end and just kind of stuck the glove out and somehow it went in. Article content 'It was a really high percent probability catch and I made it look really hard.' Article content Starting pitcher Bowden Francis, who was rocked hard in the loss in the first of three games against the Red Sox to start this home stand was among the admirers of his teammate's prowess. Article content 'Crazy,' Francis said. 'It's one of those things where you're not surprised, but he's incredible out there.' Article content 'That was one of the best catches I've seen in my life,' said Boston's Alex Bregman, who belted one of his team's five homers. 'I wish he (didn't make the play) because it would have been a nice triple for Jarren.' Article content
Vancouver Sun
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canadians notebook: Blue Jays' top prospect is here, could No. 2 be on the way?
Article content The Vancouver Canadians have the Toronto Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect already in shortstop Arjun Nimmala and it wouldn't be surprising if their No. 2 farmhand arrived at Nat Bailey Stadium sometime soon too. Article content Trey Yesavage, a 21-year-old right-hander who follows Nimmala on the Jays' list compiled by MLB Pipeline, has been dominating one tier down from the C's with the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays. Article content Article content The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder from Pottstown, Penn., has struck out 28 batters in 17 1/3 innings through four appearances with Dunedin. He's walked eight and given up nine hits and six earned runs. Article content Article content His longest outing to date has been five innings. He was a first-round pick (20th overall) in last summer's draft out of East Carolina University, and received a US$4.175 million signing bonus from the Jays. The Toronto brain trust is going to be careful about not overextending him. To that end, he may not get promoted to high-A Vancouver until the Jays are certain there's a consistent stretch of warmer weather here. Article content According to his MLB Pipeline scouting report, Yesavage's fastball sits in the 93 to 95 m.p.h. range, and he also throws a slider and a splitter, along with the occasional curveball. Article content
