Blue Jays' bottom of the order comes up big in comeback win over Giants

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From top to bottom, the Blue Jays’ lineup has generally delivered this season, as evidenced by the club’s first-place standing in the AL East.

The team’s big boys tend to reside in the top of the order, but this season, if anything, has shown that even the alleged unknowns are more than capable of producing.

Witness the Blue Jays’ 6-3 comeback win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday in front of a sold-out Rogers Centre crowd of 42,015.

All six of Toronto’s runs were driven in by the bottom third of the order as the triumvirate sparked the team to its longest home winning streak in 10 years.

Tyler Heineman drove in the winning run with an RBI double in the sixth inning before he unloaded on a two-run homer in the eighth to give the Jays their ninth home win in succession.

The trio of Ernie Clement, Will Wagner and Heineman went 5-for-10 at the plate.

Giants starter Logan Webb is a tough pitcher, and yet Toronto’s bottom of the order was able to do the damage.

“They just stuck to their approach,” said manager John Schneider following the win as the Jays improved to 57-41.

Clement has hit as high as leadoff. He has that rare bat control that allows him to lay down bunts, hit behind runners or be used in hit-and-run scenarios.

Wagner came on the scene last season following the trade deadline deal with Houston that also netted Joey Loperfido.

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Heineman has come out the blue, but he is more than a serviceable backup catcher.

The home run on Saturday was Heineman’s third of the season. He also recorded his first career multiple extra-base hit game.

As well as the bottom of the order performed, it was hard to overlook Addison Barger’s career-high four-hit performance.

“A guy with really, really great talent,” added the skipper on Barger. “He can hit the ball hard, he can hit the ball out of the ball park, and you pair that with a very good approach.

“He’s got a bright future. He can be as good as anyone … It’s tools, it’s approach, it’s confidence. He’s in a good spot.”

The same could be said for the Jays, who have taken the first two games of the series after losing three of four just before the all-star break.

With a series win already assured heading into Sunday’s finale, the Jays have won seven of their past eight series at home and 12 of their previous 15 overall series.

A win Sunday will give the Jays their third straight home series sweep.