Blue Jays' 3-3 homestand ends with two losses in row to Cleveland Guardians

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The Blue Jays could have been flying high, metaphorically speaking that is, to the West Coast for a six-game stretch.

Instead, they’ll be flying low in the wake of two losses, the latest setback playing out in Sunday’s rubber match against the visiting Cleveland Guardians.

As usual, late-game drama unfolded.

A Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sac fly scored a run as the Jays drew to within one.

After Bo Bichette stole second, the Jays had the tying run in scoring position.

He would advance to third base on a groundout, sending George Springer up to the plate.

Different players have stepped in key moments during the team’s homestand that began with the Jays taking two of three against the Boston Red Sox.

Springer struck out on a check swing, putting a damper on a series that could have easily gone in Toronto’s favour.

The Jays leave town knowing a game would be lost, 5-4, knowing a series would also be lost.

In the what could have department, the Jays would be sporting a winning record.

As it stands, Sunday’s loss dropped the Jays’ record to 16-18.

Based on a 3-3 homestand, it’s anyone’s guess trying to best figure out this team.

No home runs would be hit Sunday.

Between Anthony Santander and Springer, the No. 3 and cleanup hitters, respectively, in the order, the duo went a combine 0-for-8 Sunday, including striking out three times.

The following are three takeaways from a series finale when the Blue Jays did not fashion a lead on a day Toronto was outhit, 10-7.

1. Bowden exposed

Tough times for Jays starter Bowden Francis of late.

When the Red Sox were in town, Francis was lit up for five home runs in three innings that led to seven earned runs.

In his previous six starts heading into Sunday, Francis had given up at least one homer in five starts.

The good news is that no homer was yielded to the Guardians.

The bad news is that Bowden did not pitch well.

One starts to wonder if last year’s late-season excellence was a fluke, whether opposing hitters have discovered a weakness or whether simply he’s going through a period of transition.

Either way, the Jays can’t afford to have any starter on a staff that has yet to fill the No. 5 role be limited to 4.1 innings like Francis was when facing the Guardians.

Including Sunday’s outing, Francis has pitched a combined 12.0 innings in his past three starts.

2. Filthy Smith

When a reliever is dubbed filthy, it means they happen to be good, a characterization that does define Cade Smith, a B.C. native who entered the game for the Guardians in the home half of the seventh inning.

Some fans were second-guessing Jays manager John Schneider for keeping Yimi Garcia in the game in the ninth inning Saturday with his pitch count increasing.

Relief pitching can be a fickle profession when one mistake in a big moment can turn a game on its head.

For the Guardians, they do have the luxury of boasting a solid bullpen.

Smith is the team’s set-up man who needed all of 15 pitches to retire the side in order.

3. Back to business

The Jays had to shuffle their deck, so to speak, in the hours leading up to first pitch when word spread Daulton Varsho was experiencing lower back tightness.

Since his return from the injured list, Varsho has quickly established himself with his bat.

Naturally, his glove was never in question as evidenced by the high-end catches he produced when Boston was in town.

That middle of the order bat has been missing, but once Varsho, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery, was cleared to play, the Jays had some length to their lineup.

Without Varsho for Sunday’s series finale, Nathan Lukes started in centrefield, an outfield configuration featuring George Springer in right and Alan Roden in left.

The Jays head out West for six games, a trip that begins Tuesday night in Anaheim against the host Angels.

Varsho’s absence did force some chess pieces to be reconfigured in the hope of providing some late-game offence.

The team’s bottom of the order, which had acquitted itself well early in the season, has regressed.

One bright spot has been Andres Gimenez, the one-time member of the Guardians, who produced at least one hit in all three games against his former team.

He batted ninth.

Up next

Jays will be off Monday before the grind of a marathon season resumes Tuesday against the Halos; at least the Jays won’t be seeing Daniel Schneemann anytime soon; Schneemann drove in all five runs on two homers Saturday and added a double Sunday, his fourth extra-base hit of the series.