Blue Jays thwart Athletics with relentless offence

The Blue Jays found a way to keep their foot on the throat of the opposition and did so relentlessly, answering the A’s jabs with haymakers in what turned into an 11-7 win at Rogers Centre.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays stared down two paths as Friday night’s game unfolded at Rogers Centre. The club had held a four-run lead at one point, but the Athletics chipped away at that and by the fifth inning, the visitors cut it down to just one run.

One route would have seen the Blue Jays squander a prime opportunity against a weak A’s club. The other entailed the home side finding a way to keep their feet on the throat of the opposition.

The Blue Jays chose the latter path and did so relentlessly during what turned into an 11-7 win over the Athletics in front of 36,951 under an open roof in Toronto. With the victory, the Blue Jays moved one game above .500 (29-28) and have now scored 23 runs in the first two games of this four-game set against the last-place A’s.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger on the offensive eruption. “There’s so much failure in baseball and that gets tiring. So, to have two big nights is really huge.”

The Blue Jays built a 6-2 lead in the fourth inning that was highlighted by Ernie Clement’s second homer in as many days. In addition to the solo shot, the second baseman added two singles and a double, while scoring two runs on the night.

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-578366” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

/*
if ( “1” == true && ‘undefined’ !== typeof window.getIndexAds ) {
var so = {preroll:{1:{1:{siteID:191888},2:{siteID:191889}}}};
adServerUrl = window.getIndexAds( ”, so, permalink);
} else {
adServerUrl = “”;
}
*/
adServerUrl = “”;
/*
var adServerUrl_result = adServerUrl.includes(“cust_params”);
var queryString=”;
if(adServerUrl_result){
var gettheDUFI = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
gettheDUFI = localStorage.getItem(“theRED_loc”);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=’ + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
*/

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “” : “”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-578366” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6373679203112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “”,
direct_url: “”
});
});

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-576814” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=’ + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
*/

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “” : “”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-576814” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6373679203112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “”,
direct_url: “”
});
});

“Power hitter now,” joked manager John Schneider of Clement. “I guess we should tell him to hit a homer every time. But he’s been pretty locked in for a while.”

Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt coughed up most of that lead when he allowed a solo homer to Shea Langeliers in the fourth and a double to Brent Rooker in the fifth that plated two more runs.

Bassitt, coming off his worst start of the season on Sunday in Tampa, allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings, walking two and striking out six. He was picked up by the Blue Jays bullpen — Mason Fluharty, Yariel Rodriguez and Brendon Little each tossed a scoreless frame before Chad Green allowed two runs in the ninth — and an offence that answered the A’s jabs with haymakers.

Bassitt lauded the work of the lineup but seemed discouraged by his recent struggles. Despite owning a solid 3.80 ERA over 66.1 innings and 12 starts, he says he isn’t content with his output this season.

“It’s just been way too inconsistent of a year,” Bassitt said. “When I’m on, I’m really good. But half the time I’m off, not eating any innings, not having quality starts.

“I guess you can try to say I’m having a decent year, but I think I’ve been terrible,” he continued. “I think we just have to figure out if things need to be changed or what. It’s not good enough.”

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-753947” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=’ + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
*/

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “” : “”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-753947” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6373683374112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “”,
direct_url: “”
});
});

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-576330” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=’ + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
*/

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “” : “”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-576330” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6373683374112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “”,
direct_url: “”
});
});

The Blue Jays’ lineup walked 11 times on Friday and collected 15 hits. George Springer and Alejandro Kirk began to break the game open with key RBI singles in the fifth inning, Barger belted a 109.8-m.p.h. solo homer into the second deck in right field in the sixth and Bo Bichette later added an RBI single to put the game out of reach.

“Contributions from everyone tonight,” said Schneider. “It was nice the way we responded every time they scored. Big hits, and I think we ran the bases really well. Just things that kind of go unnoticed. I thought Carlos (Febles) put on a clinic coaching third tonight — you got to give credit where credit’s due.

“It was a total team effort today.”

In contrast, it was a miserable game for the A’s, save for the work of centre-fielder Denzel Clarke, a Toronto native playing in just his seventh big-league game. The 25-year-old top prospect stole a homer from Kirk in the fourth when he scaled the wall in centre for a Spider-Man catch that was reminiscent of Kevin Pillar.

“That’s a hell of a catch,” said Schneider. “Cool for him to come back home and do that … I’m sure it’s cool for him and his family, his friends.”

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-182209” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=’ + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
*/

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “” : “”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-182209” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: true,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6373681470112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “”,
direct_url: “”
});
});

var adServerUrl = “”;
var $el = $( “#video_container-108472” );
var permalink = $el.closest(‘.snet-single-article’).data(‘permalink’);

if(gettheDUFI){
queryString += “dufiid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
queryString += “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
var ppid = “ppid=” + gettheDUFI + ‘&’;
}

var DUFI_IP = false;
if (localStorage.getItem(“consent”) !== null && localStorage.getItem(“consent-targeting”) !== null)
DUFI_IP = sessionStorage.getItem(“DUFI_IP”);

if(DUFI_IP){
queryString += “dufiip=” + DUFI_IP + ‘&’;
}

adServerUrl = adServerUrl.replace(/cust_params=/, ppid + ‘cust_params=’ + encodeURIComponent(queryString) );
}
*/

$el.after( unescape(“%3Cscript src=”” + (document.location.protocol == “https:” ? “” : “”) + “.scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js” %3E%3C/script%3E”) );

$( document ).one( ‘ready’, function() {
$( “#video_container-108472” ).SNPlayer( {
bc_account_id: “1704050871”,
bc_player_id: “JCdte3tMv”,
//autoplay: false,
//is_has_autoplay_switch: false,
bc_videos: 6373681470112,
is_has_continuous_play: “false”,
adserverurl: adServerUrl,
section: “”,
thumbnail: “”,
direct_url: “”
});
});

The recent awakening of the Blue Jays’ offence comes at a time when the unit is operating somewhat shorthanded. Prior to Friday’s game, outfielder Anthony Santander was placed on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation, and the club recalled outfielder Alan Roden from triple-A Buffalo. Santander had an MRI on Thursday night, and the Blue Jays are still trying to determine next steps for him, according to Schneider.

In other injury news, right-hander Max Scherzer tossed 22 pitches during a live BP session Friday afternoon and is expected to throw again on Tuesday and increase his pitch count. Schneider said that Scherzer’s injured right thumb has been “trending in the right direction for a while now and that leads to optimism for him to kind of keep going forward.”

The manager said reliever Braydon Fisher will open Saturday’s contest during what’s expected to be a bullpen game for the Blue Jays. The lineup, meanwhile, will look to keep their bats going at home on the heels of a road trip in which they were starved for runs.

“I think we’re just being aggressive and swinging a lot,” said Barger. “In Tampa and Texas, we put a lot of good swings on balls that just got caught, right to guys. The balls are starting to drop and go over the wall.”

“It’s just been up and down collectively, everyone chipping in,” added Schneider. “And when you get on a little bit of a roll, it seems to rub off on everyone a little bit.”