Blue Jays in danger of getting swept in Philadelphia following five straight series wins
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No one is about to push the panic button, but some might be inclined following two straight losses when the Blue Jays’ offence was conspicuous by its silence.
Win five series in a row and expectations are automatically raised, series against inferior and superior opposition when the Jays’ bats were brimming with confidence.
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Blue Jays in danger of getting swept in Philadelphia following five straight series wins Back to video
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A sweep in Philadelphia is now possible following Saturday’s 3-2 loss, one game after the Jays were handed an 8-0 loss to the Phillies.
Toronto has not been swept since its ill-fated stay in Tampa last month.
The following are three takeaways on an afternoon at Citizens Bank Park where Toronto’s lineup had a difficult time trying to generate any offence against Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez, who was charged with a run following a successful challenge initiated by the Blue Jays.
1. Good Bowden, bad Bowden
Amid so much tumult and a body of work that would normally land a player in the minors, kudos to Bowden Francis, the Jays’ embattled starter who has not looked the part.
Truth be told, he hasn’t looked good at all.
When he took to the mound Saturday, Francis was minus his familiar mustache.
Whatever works when so little has worked for the right-hander.
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One has to go back to April 18 to find the last time Francis earned a win.
Things went well against the Phillies, who hit two loud outs through the opening two innings, each caught at the warning track.
Through two innings, Francis needed 26 pitches to retire the side in order.
He was in control and his command was way better compared to his most recent starts.
The Jays are in this pitching pinch knowing the staff features only three reliable and legitimate starters, which is why trying to unlock Bowden is crucial.
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Max Scherzer rejoined the team Saturday following his rehab outing in Buffalo.
The plan is for the veteran to throw a side session Sunday before Scherzer makes another start in Triple-A next Wednesday.
If any viable options existed, Francis would be starting in the minors.
In the absence of any, the Jays have to roll with Francis and hope he gets better.
The first hit he allowed came in the third inning with two outs.
Francis hasn’t looked this good since his May 27 start against the host Texas Rangers when he gave up zero runs in five innings.
His first moment of adversity against the Phillies arrived in the fourth inning when two walks and a hit batter would load the bases.
He fell behind Bryson Stott 3-0 and would issue a full-count walk.
Francis then threw a ball well out of the zone to walk in a run.
A second hit batter would score the inning’s second run as Francis’ outing had officially ended.
What a stunning turn of events for a besieged pitcher who appeared to have regained some of his form by retiring 11 of the first 12 batters he faced.
That stretch must be viewed as an all-important step forward.
The fourth-inning stench was troublesome.
2. Hit man
Every time, it seems, Ernie Clement is in the lineup a hit is certain to be recorded.
He’s joined Alejandro Kirk in that category knowing some kind of base knock awaits.
It took Clement his first at-bat to extend his hit streak to six games.
Clement stroked a double, the Jays’ first extra-base hit of the series, and would score on Myles Straw’s two-out single as the Jays scored their first run of the series.
In his second at-bat, Clement hit a single to raise his average to .286 on the season.
He always makes contact and in fact Clement has not struck out since May 31, an 11-game streak heading into Saturday.
It increased to 12 games following a 2-for-4 day.
Another unsung hero has been Tyler Heineman, who started behind the plate Saturday.
With the fourth inning unraveling, Heineman made a great defensive play that saved a run.
With Brendon Little in relief of Francis, Heineman retrieved a wild pitch to his left and made an adroit dive to the plate to tag out T.J. Realmuto for the third out.
In the top of the fifth, Heineman reached base when he was hit by a pitch.
3. Vladdy strikes
One knows Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is poised to go on a run when he’s able to line it into right-centre field.
While the ball didn’t leave the park, a two-out double in the fifth inning did score Bo Bichette as the Jays tied the game.
It was a vintage Vlad Jr. stroke.
Bichette came around to score after the Jays successfully challenged an out at first base that would have ended the inning on a double play.
Vlad Jr. was charged with an error in the fifth, but it didn’t cost the Jays.
Vlad Jr. and Clement accounted for four of Toronto’s five hits on the day.
Up next
Sunday’s series finale (1:35 p.m. first pitch) looms as a pitchers’ duel with Jose Berrios (2-2, 3.38 ERA) versus Zack Wheeler (6-2, 2.85 ERA); in the opening two games, the Jays faced quality left-handed starters who each went seven complete innings; Wheeler is a right-hander and one of baseball’s best.
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