Alejandro Kirk continues to produce, Jonatan Clase breaks out, as Blue Jays snap losing skid against Red Sox

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As a disappointing season slowly winds down, it’s no longer what isn’t happening that grabs the attention — as has been the case for the bulk of the year — but the little things that hold your interest.

So, yes, the pre-game news that Bo Bichette’s broken finger will require surgery may have been a headline earlier in the year, but it is hardly big news at this point.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are some of those aforementioned little things that start to stand out.

There was that little matter of officially ending Boston’s wild card hopes with a 6-1 win, though Jays manager John Schneider said he has far too much respect for Alex Cora and his staff to celebrate that particular “little thing.”

At the front of things worth celebrating we start with Alejandro Kirk’s return to consistent offensive producer. Kirk was central to Toronto’s win to salvage a game in the series and snap a five-game Toronto losing skid.

Kirk extended his career-best hitting streak to 17 games with a three-hit night that included an RBI double and a two-run single that could have easily been another double were it not for his well-known lack of footspeed.

But getting Kirk going again, particularly when one looks at the lack of depth the Jays currently have at that position, would qualify as a good sign heading into next season.

Of course, that would mean Kirk would have to be re-signed in the off-season, but that would seem likely given the Jays’ options within the organization at the moment.

But Kirk was far from the only small good moment in Wednesday’s losing skid ender. There was a return to the mound by Kevin Gausman, a guy who figures in mightily to the Jays’ future and one who was coming off a five-inning no-hitter bid that wound up being cut short by back tightness.

There was little evidence of that in Gausman’s game as the veteran right-hander gave the Jays six solid innings of one-run ball to improve to 14-11 on the year.

Look a little deeper and there was even the rarity of one Blue Jay getting down two sacrifice bunts in a game. Nathan Lukes might just go in the record books for that performance.

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Of course, a Blue Jays win this year rarely comes without some contribution from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the power-hitting first baseman had his moment as well, just missing a home run in the fourth to settle for a double. He would come around to score and finish the night with a pair of hits to extend one of the only consistent performances of this season for the Jays.

And then what is a night in a meaningless September without a young prospect having one of those nights to remember. That was the case for 22-year-old outfielder Jonatan Clase, who took over the leadoff spot and was on base all four times with three hits and a walk.

Clase capped his night with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, the first major-league bomb of his career.

Asked about it afterward, Classe said it was just like a dream circling the bases after the homer. The perfect ending was getting that home run ball back, which the team did for him and will have a special place in his parent’s home as soon as he can get it back there.

The Jays will enjoy a day off Thursday before closing out the season with a fan appreciation weekend against the visiting Miami Marlins.

BICHETTE’S SEASON ENDS WITH FINGER SURGERY

At this point, you couldn’t blame Bo Bichette if he never wanted to discuss the 2024 baseball season again.

The homegrown Blue Jays shortstop was already on the 10-game injured list after injuring the middle finger on his right hand in his first game back following a lengthy absence due to a calf strain.

Before Wednesday’s game with Boston, Jays manager John Schneider revealed Bichette will have surgery on the finger, where he’ll have a pin inserted in the digit.

Bichette is expected to be ready for spring training.

All told, Bichette managed just 81 games this season and who knows for how many of those he was actually fully healthy?

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The injuries clearly took their toll on his performance as he hit an uncharacteristic .225 with just four homers and 31 RBIs in a down year at the worst possible time from a contractual standpoint.

Bichette will head into the final year of his current contract next season. Under normal circumstances, a team would be looking to extend one of its star homegrown players to ensure they don’t get away in free agency, but there has been little movement on that front.

An injury-plagued season certainly didn’t help make a decision of that magnitude any easier.

Meanwhile, the Jays recalled right-hander Brett de Geus from triple-A Buffalo and optioned fellow reliever Tommy Nance to the team’s spring training complex.

The Blue Jays claimed de Geus off waivers from the Miami Marlins on Sept. 12. He has a 0-2 record and 5.00 earned-run average over 11 appearances this season with Miami and the Seattle Mariners.

Nance made 20 appearances for the Blue Jays this year. He was 0-3 with a 4.09 ERA.

— With files from The Canadian Press.