Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went the extra typical manner in launching two balls over the wall, whereas George Springer stored it contained in the Trop as he trotted across the bases as a part of a wild sequence.
Both manner, the Blue Jays, regardless of all of the noise and moments of under-achievement which have plagued this membership, return house with the actual risk of nailing down a post-season berth.
With six video games remaining within the common season, together with a season-ending three-game set in opposition to Tampa, solely a whole meltdown will preserve the Jays from making the playoffs.
The Rays are a scrappy bunch, however they’re coping with accidents and seem weak.
It’s very possible the Jays will return to the house of the Rays for the best-of-three wild card matchup.
The way in which the Jays have been taking part in in all areas, there’s no purpose why a playoff win in opposition to Tampa can’t be achieved.
Thoughts you, nothing comes simple as evidenced by Sunday’s 9-5 win as Toronto took the sequence rubber match and nothing will likely be simple if a Tampa-Toronto sequence turns into a actuality.
Jordan Romano couldn’t seal the deal Saturday when Tampa produced a walk-off win.
Yimi Garcia gave the Rays life by surrendering a two-run homer within the seventh inning Sunday, however the Jays produced a much-needed add-on run within the eighth on a Daulton Varsho triple.
Erik Swanson survived a ticklish scenario within the house half of the inning.
Toronto’s win can be punctuated in its ultimate at-bats when Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. produced back-to-back belts.
BY GEORGE, HE’S GOOD
Springer produced one of the crucial electrical and explosive sequences baseball has seen in fairly a while, which isn’t any exaggeration.
It started when he capped off a five-run second inning by the Blue Jays with an inside-the-park house run after Springer launched a fly ball 410 toes that went off the wall in left-centre.
The homer was Springer’s twenty first of the season and the Jays’ first inside-the-park sprint since Raimel Tapia’s Fenway feat final season.
Within the third inning, Springer threw a runner making an attempt to take second base by unleashing a rocket to the bag.
He wasn’t finished.
On the very subsequent Rays at-bat, Springer went all out towards the foul line in proper subject earlier than making an amazing diving catch.
Three high-end performs throughout the span of three innings and Springer served discover that the playoffs are proper across the nook.
A former World Collection MVP for Houston, Springer relishes this time of the baseball calendar.
Nobody can anticipate Springer to copy Sunday’s scintillating exploits, however he’s heating up on the absolute proper time.
BELT TIGHTENING
There haven’t been any Brandon Belt sightings, at the very least not on the diamond or within the batter’s field, since Sept. 11 when Texas got here to city within the sequence opener of a four-game set that became a Rangers rout.
A foul again has stored the veteran out of the lineup, however Belt ought to, by all accounts, be obtainable this week when the Jays shut out the common season.
Monday is an off day, permitting Belt an additional day to work on ironing out the kinks.
A left-handed bat who has gone deep 16 instances this season, Belt’s availability provides depth to a lineup that has proven encouraging indicators.
Cavan Biggio was as soon as once more within the cleanup gap Sunday.
The Jays are scheduled to face some high-end righties this week.
A wholesome Belt will add size to the lineup, whether or not he’s beginning at first base or serving because the DH.
PARSONS OF INTEREST
The Jays added Wes Parsons to their taxi squad within the hours main as much as Sunday’s sequence finale.
The precise-hander compiled a 4.52 ERA with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Earlier within the season, Parsons was named the Worldwide League pitcher of the week for the week of June 27-July 2, changing into the primary member of the Bisons to be acknowledged in 2023.
Parsons, 31, is a Tennessee native whom the Jays signed as a minor-league free agent again on Could 8.
Parsons spent every of the previous two seasons pitching for the NC Dinos of the KBO League in South Korea.
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THANKS, YANKS
The once-vaunted Bronx Bombers come to city for a three-game sequence starting Tuesday night time as New York wraps up what can charitably be described as a woeful season.
When the Jays visited the Huge Apple earlier within the week, they confronted Michael King and presumptive AL Cy Younger Award winner Gerrit Cole, who will likely be entrance and centre at Rogers Centre.
Every pitched extraordinarily effectively till the Yankees’ inferior bullpen was thrust into the highlight.
King struck out 13 by registering punchouts on his sinker (6), four-seamer (3), sweeper (3) and changeup (1), whereas limiting the Jays to 1 run on 5 hits in seven innings.
The Jays’ lone run was produced on an infield hit within the third inning on a ball that went off King’s glove.
Cole, who has by no means received the Cy Younger Award, cemented his case when he retired the primary 16 hitters and pitched eight splendid innings by placing out 9 and permitting solely two baserunners.
In opposition to the Yankees this season, the Jays went a mixed 4-2 within the Bronx.
At house, the Jays misplaced a four-game sequence 3-1 in mid Could.
Since getting swept at house by Texas, the Jays swept Boston, received two of three within the Bronx and took two of three on the Trop.