George Springer's timely dinger sparks Blue Jays to another road win over Twins
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The Blue Jays are enjoying this unexpected view near the top of the AL East, knowing that better times await if they are able to sustain these good vibes.
Following Saturday’s 5-4 victory over the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, the Jays are on a 10-2 in their past dozen games. Their ascent has taken them six games above .500 (35-29) for the first time this season and finds them in sole possession of second place in the division and, for one day at least, the No. 1 wild-card slot in the American League.
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George Springer's timely dinger sparks Blue Jays to another road win over Twins Back to video
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The New York Yankees remain atop the AL East, but the Jays can now be characterized as a legitimate contender, at least based on how they’ve been able to step up in the big of moments.
The latest example was provided on Saturday by a rejuvenated George Springer, who went deep for a two-run blast in the eighth inning.
It was his club-leading 10th dinger of the season.
The following are three takeaways on a day the Jays once again showed a penchant for staging late comeback wins as they eye a series sweep on Sunday, and when closer Jeff Hoffman gave up his seventh homer of the season but saved his second save in as many games.
1. Gausman of the hour
Kevin Gausman is too good of a pitcher to be continually vexed by the Twins, who have had the veteran’s number over the years.
The law of averages dictated Gausman would eventually have his day.
On Saturday, he attacked the strike zone and, through three innings, was nearly flawless. His only blemish came on a walk that would be quickly erased when he induced a double play.
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Out of nowhere, however, it began to unravel in the fourth inning. And rapidly. With the Jays up 2-0, Gausman loaded the bases with one out, then plunked Ty France — his first hit batsman this season — to force in the first Twins run. He then walked Royce Lewis and it was 2-2.
It could have been worse, but the damage was minimized when Gausman induced an inning-ending double-play grounder to Kody Clemens.
At the end of the day, Gausman was doomed by the hit batsman and a solo blast he surrendered to Matt Wallner in the sixth inning that gave Minny a 3-2 lead.
The 104-pitch outing was a season-high for Gausman as he remained 1-5 in his career against the Twins
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2. Can’t catch me
Backup catcher Tyler Heineman, now in his third stint with the Jays, is making a strong case for additional playing time.
With Alejandro Kirk on the roster and performing like his previous all-star form, the best Heineman can ask for is for the occasional start behind the plate.
By no means is he making people forget the days of Danny Jansen, but the 33-year-old switch-hitter is making a name for himself.
Consider his first at-bat on Saturday, taking Twins starter Chris Paddack deep to right field with two out in the second inning for his second homer of the season and just the third of his career.
He added a couple of singles to cap a 3-for-4 day which lifted his average to .404 and OPS to .976 — numbers no one expects him to maintain — and gave him his third consecutive multi-hit game.
3. More thump from Vlad
Perception is everything, or so it’s been said, and the perception surrounding Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is that more must be summoned, especially in the power department.
Guerrero has eight homers to date and is on pace for just 20 — not terrible, but not befitting someone with a $500-million contract extension kicking in next season.
Vladdy, however, has contributed in other ways. On Saturday, he came through in the top of the ninth when he plated Heineman with a single to provide the Jays with what turned out to be the winning run.
Earlier in the week, when the Jays beat their former closer Jordan Romano and the visiting Phillies on Kirk’s walk-off hit, it was Vladdy who set it up by stealing second base, his first swipe of the season, before scoring the winning run.
But with Anthony Santander and Daulton Varsho still on the injured list, a few more long balls would be welcomed.
UP NEXT
All eyes will be on Bowden Francis in Sunday’s series finale (2:10 p.m. EDT first pitch), a beleaguered right-hander who will be making his 13th start of the season. In his latest outing, Francis gave up two homers to the visiting Phillies in 1.2 innings to increase his season total to 17, tied for the most in the majors with Tampa’s Zack Littell.
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