Blue Jays parlay a four-run sixth inning into a win over the visiting Giants

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For the record, Addison Barger’s four-hit game Saturday was a career-first, a feat likely to repeat itself as he continues to emerge as a difference-maker for the Blue Jays.

He even got to display his rocket of an arm in right field, turning a routine run on a sac fly into anything but a certainty.

Barger, who appears to possess a presence in games that few have, was but one of many bright spots for the Jays — who don’t mind sharing the spotlight while the wins pile up — in a 6-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants at the Rogers Centre.

Tyler Heineman belted his third home run of the season — a two-run blast in the eighth inning that sailed just inside the foul pole in right to give the Jays some breathing room after Willy Adames had cut the Torontro lead to 4-3 with his second homer of the game in the seventh.

Meanwhile, Will Wagner reprised his heroics of the night before, drilling a two-RBI double to right in the sixth that put the Jays ahead for the first time, 3-2.

The following are three takeaways on a day the Jays outhit the Giants, 14-4 — everyone in the starting lineup had at least one — produced a four-run inning for the second game in a row, and are eyeing a third successive home sweep on Sunday.

1. Lauer(ing) the boom

Eric Lauer was nearly flawless for the Blue Jays, retiring the first 13 Giants he faced — a stretch that featured four strikeouts in succession.

The first hit he gave up didn’t come until there was one out in the fifth when Adames sent a ball over the left-field wall to make it 1-0.

Lauer gave the Jays six strong innings. His 81-pitch outing was near masterful, save for the Adames blast and a leadoff double in the sixth inning to Luis Matos.

He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter as he saw his ERA drop to 2.80 on the season while improving his record to 5-2.

2. Vlad experience

One minute he’s getting picked off at first on a liner hit in front of him, the next he’s resorting to his inner Willie Mays in making an over-the-shoulder catch. From jeers to cheers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has a way of always eliciting some kind of reaction.

For the sake of the Blue Jays, one of these days he’ll have to start launching balls and depositing them over the outfield seats with more regularity.

Until that day arrives — if it even does for those clamoring for long balls — it’s best to sit back and allow things to play out, knowing just about anything is possible when it comes to the Jays all-star.

Guerrero went 1-for-4 in a quiet day at the plate. His lone hit was an infield single in the third, but he was immediately doubled off when Bo Bichette scorched a line drive right at Giants second baseman Casey Schmitt, who easily threw him out at first to end the inning.

Despite his power problems, Vladdy has been getting his hits (a .276 average) and walks (an outstanding .382 OBP) while making noise defensively with his glove.

He ranged well into right field, with Barger barrelling in on him, to snare a Wilmer Flores fly ball with an over-the-shoulder catch to end the third inning.

A second web gem was produced in the seventh when he went into the screen down the first-base line to secure a foul ball.Video review confirmed the out, but it did seem odd in real time why such a review was even initiated.

3. Webb of deception

In terms of quality arms, San Fran’s Logan Webb ranks among baseball’s best this season, which could come as news to many fans in this time zone, given the veteran right-hander pitches in the NL West.

What Jays fans witnessed on Saturday was a Houdini-like effort through five innings as Webb managed to keep the Jays scoreless, despite constant traffic on the basepaths. He gave up six hits, a walk and a hit batsman in those first five innings but was the beneficiary of two double plays.

It all changed, however, dramatically, in the sixth inning when eight Jays hitters came to the plate and scored four runs.

Of note with this matchup, Webb currently ranks fourth in the majors with 140 strikeouts. On this day, however, he managed just one against a Jays team whose 651 Ks are the fewest in Major League Baseball.

Up next

Sunday’s series finale is a 12:05 p.m. first pitch, an unorthodox time to accommodate Roku, the U.S.-based streaming service that entered into a partnership with MLB … Former Blue Jay and Cy Young Award recipient Robbie Ray is the scheduled starter for the Giants, while Jose Berrios gets the ball for the home side.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com