Wild ride continues as Blue Jays take care of business with win over O’s

Article content material

At any time when the wild trip of the 2021 common season ends, ought to it occur, it is going to be a crushing blow for the Blue Jays.

Article content material

To a person, there isn’t a participant excited about the strides made for the reason that 95 losses in 2019 to one thing that ends in a comfort prize close to miss.

To a person, they imagine they are often aggressive towards the most effective groups in baseball.

After a 6-4 win over one of many least aggressive groups – the Baltimore Orioles – the pursuit continues because the Jays took care of their very own enterprise as they try to run down the Boston Pink Sox and Seattle Mariners within the closing strides of the American League wildcard race..

It didn’t come with out taking a festive Friday night time crowd on the Rogers Centre by way of the excruciating wackiness this time of yr can carry when one crew combating for his or her lives faces one other enjoying out the string.

The Jays led 6-0 after seven innings, with Toronto starter Steven Matz buzzing alongside and his crew seemingly poised for a stress-free begin to the ultimate collection of the season.

Article content material

Not often does baseball ship issues so simply, nevertheless, because the Jays wanted to get 5 outs from nearer Jordan Romano simply to complete issues.

Nonetheless, because the constructing pleasure meets desperation, the younger Jays are appreciating the pursuit much more than final yr’s playoff run.

There’s no evaluating a 60-game season with the usual 162-game model, to not point out the expanded playoff format that helped the Jays sneak in 12 months in the past.

“This can be a lot completely different,” Jays shortstop Bo Bichette stated. “Final yr after we went to the playoffs, it wasn’t as a lot emotion as a result of with no one within the stands, it was nearly prefer it was on the again fields (at spring coaching.)

“That is what you reside for. I wouldn’t be enjoying baseball if I didn’t get a chance to play in conditions like this. It’s loads completely different and much more thrilling.”

Article content material

It was slightly too thrilling in direction of the tip on Friday.

After his seven shutout innings, Matz was seeking to give his crew another, however acquired dinged by a solo homer from Kelvin Gutierrez to finish his night time within the eighth.

The proceedings acquired unnecessarily attention-grabbing from there as reliever Adam Cimber allowed a two-run homer to Pat Valaika to make it 6-3.

With Austin Hays on the plate representing the potential game-tying run, supervisor Charlie Montoyo summoned Romano to the mound.

The appropriate-hander acquired the job achieved, however not with out issuing a stroll to load the bases – placing the tying run at second – earlier than inducing a floor ball to Gutierrez to finish the rally.

Romano returned for the ninth and slammed the door shut by putting out the aspect to complete off a five-out save.

Article content material

“He will get into that groove and he’s acquired that edge,” first baseman for the night time, Cavan Biggio, stated of Romano. “He will get into his groove and that rhythm and he’s going to do no matter it takes to win that sport.”

With time working out on the post-season chase, the Jays did their half however couldn’t achieve floor on the Pink Sox, who stay a sport up after a 4-2 win over the Nationals in D.C. The Mariners, who started the night time tied with the Pink Sox, have been enjoying towards the Los Angeles Angels afterward the West Coast.

Powerless to regulate the out of city happenings, the Jays imagine they’re adequate to advance past the 162 when it arrives on Sunday.

“ this crew, this crew is so good,” Matz stated. “We’re so shut. I don’t know if I’ve ever been on a crew this good.

Article content material

“You’ve acquired a possible Cy Younger and a possible MVP. Simply go down the listing. Simply going out daily and seeing this crew compete has been a pleasure.“

BIGGIO’S BACK

You suppose Biggio missed his time with the Jays?

The versatile bench man noticed his first motion since getting back from the injured listing and was stellar each the place he went – from the batters’ field, to the working the bases and to his defensive work at first.

Hitting ninth within the order, Biggio had hits in every of his three at-bats, driving in a run and scoring one other. Supervisor Charlie Montoyo put Biggio within the lineup to provide Vlad Guerrero Jr. a break at DH and was instantly rewarded.

“To get again in entrance of these followers once more, I don’t wish to get emotional, but it surely was fairly particular,” Biggio stated following the sport. “We now have to exit and end up robust and hope we are able to get in there.”

Article content material

GAME ON

Romano wanted 32 pitches to report his 5 outs however stated he’ll “be able to go” if wanted on Saturday. “I’ve been in plenty of excessive leverage spots however I really feel my thoughts and physique are prepared for these conditions,” Romano stated. … The underside of the order was the place to be as No. 8 hitter, catcher Danny Jansen, was on fireplace. Jansen belted a two-run homer within the third and added an RBI double within the Jays four-run sixth … No. 7 hitter, Santiago Espinal, was no slouch both going two-for-two with a stroll in his first three journeys to the plate … Additionally within the sixth, when George Springer drove in Biggio, it was the five hundredth RBI of his profession.