Series sweep over Texas Rangers caps off a winning homestand for Blue Jays

Article content

Two months had elapsed since the Blue Jays swept a series. But given everything surrounding this group and the potential moves as Tuesday’s trade deadline approaches, it’s far sweeter than the alternative.

In the big picture, sweeping the Texas Rangers — the reigning World Series champions in name only — with a 7-3 victory at the Rogers Centre, doesn’t carry much weight.

But Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued to rake, going deep in Sunday’s victory, his 19th home run of the season and sixth in the past 10 games.

The Jays must pursue all options in signing Vladdy to an extended contract with his current deal running through next season before free agency kicks in. But it’s also clear the Jays must surround him with better players, which is easier said than done.

In Sunday’s series finale, the Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning, 6-0 after two, and showed no signs of being caught as Daulton Varsho also homered and Jose Berrios, who has not looked good in his most recent starts, went seven strong innings.

Genesis Cabrera was summoned from the bullpen in the eighth inning, quickly allowing two runs, including a Josh Smith home run. Zach Pop relieved Cabrera with runners on second and third and induced an inning-ending groundout, then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first career save.

Toronto ended its nine-game homestand going 5-4, but still lost two of three series. Despite the team’s struggles, fans continue to support the team with an announced crowd of 40,052 in attendance on a sun-splashed Sunday.

A Monday double dip in Baltimore awaits followed by Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline.

The Jays won’t be home until Aug. 6 when the Orioles come to town. By then, it’s anyone’s guess how the Jays will look roster-wise.

TEXAS TOAST

The Rangers made a pitching change with two outs in the first inning of Saturday’s game when starter Michael Lorenzen, after 40 pitches, had allowed seven successive base-runners, which led to four Toronto runs.

Then came Sunday when the Rangers had to make a change before scheduled starter Jon Gray even threw a pitch.

One quickly knew something was amiss when the team’s trainer made his way to the mound. Exit Gray and enter Jonathan Hernandez.

MLB has not seen a pitching change before a pitch was even tossed since 2016.

It was later announced Gray was dealing with right groin discomfort.

Hernandez gave up three runs on three hits, including Varsho’s second home run in as many games.

In the three combined first innings against the Rangers this series, the Blue Jays scored 10 runs.

Strangely enough, the Rangers went with Lorenzen again on Sunday to start the fifth inning to take pressure off the bullpen. This time, he needed just 14 pitches to retire the side in order.

Go figure.

ON KIERMAIER AND BARGER

In the second inning Sunday, Kevin Kiermaier laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Addison Barger, who’d reached base on a leadoff single, to second. Bunting has become a lost art in today’s game, but Kiermaier plays an old-school brand of baseball.

After a sac fly put Barger at third, the Jays left him stranded.

Barger started in right field with Kiermaier in centre and Varsho in left.

In the third inning, Barger’s two-run double extended the Jays’ lead to 6-0. It was his third multi-hit game with the Blue Jays and his third double.

Kiermaier, meanwhile, slammed into the padded wall in right-centre trying to chase down a sharply hit ball. He came down grabbing his lower back, but remained in the game.

In his next at-bat, Kiermaier singled into right centre, but the look on his face when he reached first base indicated he was dealing with some obvious discomfort and was replaced by pinch-runner Steward Berroa.

Post-game, manager John Schneider said that Kiermaier is day-to-day with a left hip contusion.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.

Play Video

CATCH(ER)-22

With Danny Jansen, who essentially grew up in the Jays’ organization, off to Boston in a deal that netted Toronto three prospects, the focus, at least one of many, shifts behind home plate and what moves are likely to be made when spring training eventually arrives in 2025.

For now, it’s all about Alejandro Kirk, who parlayed a good first half of a season in 2022 into an all-star berth.

But Kirk has never shown he can play anywhere close to 100 games.

The only other catcher on the Jays’ 40-man roster is Brian Serven, who, not surprisingly, rejoined the big-league club in the wake of Jansen’s trade.

Unless Kirk can prove he’s a legitimate stalwart at catcher, which many views as unrealistic, a catching tandem might be the best approach when the 2025 season ultimately begins. In other words, the Jays will need to acquire a catcher at some point.

In fairness, he did go first to third on a sixth-inning single, which might be a first for the slow-footed Kirk, before scoring on a sac fly.

And he did work well with Berrios, whose batterymate has routinely been Jansen.

As a pending free agent, there’s always the remote possibility of Jansen returning, but that seems more pie in the sky.

Jansen, by the way, was linked to the Chicago Cubs when rumours first began to surface a few weeks ago.

The Cubs traded for Nate Pearson on the same day Jansen was dealt.

The addition of Jansen gives the Red Sox three catchers, including one-time Blue Jays backup Reese McGuire.

Weirdly, the Jays return to Fenway Park on Aug. 26 to resume a suspended game. The Jays’ scheduled hitter before last month’s game went into a rain delay and later put on pause was Jansen.

Technically, if Jansen appears in next month’s game, he would have suited up for two teams in one game.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com