Blue Jays’ rejigged lineup, Gausman’s pitching eke out win over Nats

Article content

Frustrations finally boiled over for the Blue Jays during Saturday’s much-needed 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in D.C.

Article content

No amount of high-end starting pitching can overcome an anemic batting lineup. So with Jays having dropped three in a row, and eight of 10 and residing in last place in the AL East, something, anything, had to give and it arrived in the second of this three-game weekend series.

Article content

The first move saw Daulton Varsho moving up to the No. 2 hole and Bo Bichette dropped to No. 5. Bichette had been scuffling badly, but he did record a hit in his first at-bat.

But the moment that best exemplified the team’s pent-up anxiety level arrived during the shortstop’s third plate appearance.

With two outs and none on, Bichette took a called third strike on an outside pitch that did catch a bit of the plate. He slammed his helmet in disgust, at no point addressing, or even facing, the home plate ump.
However, he was immediately tossed from the game.

Article content

Article content

Manager John Schneider, who told Bichette of the lineup change following Friday night’s loss, was hot.

Whether his ejection was warranted is immaterial. The point is that some kind of show of emotion was required during these trying times.

The Jays, make no mistake, are better with Bichette in the lineup, at least they are when he and the top of the order are hitting. But the usual top three, which includes George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., hasn’t been hitting. As a result, the Jays haven’t been winning.

The Jays did emerge with the win Saturday, sparked by Kevin Gausman’s pitching, a four-run first inning and Washington’s wretched defence.

That early 4-0 cushion was carried into the bottom of the seventh when the Nationals cut the lead in half with a pair of runs off the Jays’ beleaguered bullpen. But Kevin Kiermaier, in his return from the injured list, went deep for a two-run blast in the eighth to make it 6-2. For the veteran, it was his first homer of the season.

Article content

Closer Jordan Romano pitched the ninth in a non-save situation and gave up a run.

But back to the bats. Six straight scoreless innings after going without a run in seven consecutive on Friday doesn’t exactly make one believe the Jays’ offensive woes are in the past, but a win is a win and at least for one day the Jays can exhale.

Right from the start Saturday, Washington’s defence — with just 10 errors coming into the game — fell apart as two throwing miscues and one missed play created a four-run hole by the time the Nats took their first swings at the plate.

All four runs off starter Jake Irvin were unearned.

The game’s tone was set when leadoff man Springer ended up at second base on a throwing error charged to Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel.

Article content

Justin Turner plated Springer, then eventually scored the Jays’ third run of the inning on another throwing error by first baseman Trey Lipscomb.

Overall, while the Jays did swing the bats better — nine hits in all — too many runners were left on base and they couldn’t produce any add-on runs until Kiermaier’s homer.

Gausman wound up going 5.1 innings, but with a pitch count that had climbed to a season-high 112. He gave up only three hits — all singles — two walks and struck out eight.

After he gave up a one-out single to Luis Garcia, Schneider summon southpaw Brendon Little, who struck out the first two hitters he faced to end the inning.

Little was back on the mound to begin the seventh but, after yielding a one-out walk, Nate Pearson relieved him.

Article content

The game suddenly turned dramatic when the Nationals loaded the bases, a sure win for the Blue Jays no longer assured after Pearson hit a batter and issued a walk.

A long out deep to centre scored Washington’s first run. A second came in on a base hit.
Schneider then had to turn to Tim Mayza, who got Garcia on a called strike to end the threat.

Yimi Garcia (lower back) wasn’t available, forcing the Jays to go with Trevor Richards in the top of the eighth.

The veteran righty began his outing with an error when he made a wayward throw to first base, but he regrouped and looked strong in retiring the side.

Article content

CINCO DE MANOAH

As soon as Alek Manoah walked into the clubhouse in the hours leading up Saturday’s first pitch, the writing was on the wall.

And when the assembled media gathered with Schneider, the obvious became official as the Jays announced that Manoah would make his MLB season debut in Sunday’s series finale.

The one-time Cy Young Award finalist hasn’t pitched in the show since last August.

What can be expected is anyone’s guess. His rehab stint at triple-A Buffalo — for a shoulder injury sustained in spring training — was going to expire on Monday.

The Jays need a fifth starter after Yariel Rodriguez (back) was placed on the 15-day IL earlier in the week.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

Article content