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Down but far from being out knowing so many outs remained, the Jays were this close to losing a series and yet drew close enough, eventually taking a lead, to earn a split in Motown.
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The margins in Sunday’s finale were razor thin, to say the least.
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Even when Daulton Varsho came up with a three-run home run in the eighth inning with two outs that gave the visitors a two-run lead, nothing was assured.
It was that kind of wild day to an unusually late morning start to accommodate the whims of a streaming service, a day when Yusei Kikuchi was not good in his start, while Yimi Garcia had an atypical appearance in relief.
The hitting onslaught, a description that hasn’t applied to Toronto, made up for everything.
And there was plenty to digest and dissect.
In the end, it didn’t sit well with the Blue Jays and their frustrated fan base as yet another gut-punch loss would be experienced.
Jordan Romano gave up a walk-off bomb with two outs and two on in the ninth inning as the Jays lost 14-11 to the Tigers, who took three of four in the series, including the final three games in a row.
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This was supposed to be a soft stretch in the schedule for the Blue Jays, who have now gone a combined 3-4 against the White Sox and Tigers.
A season-high in runs were wasted once Romano’s pitch sailed into the seats in left field off the bat of Matt Vierling.
Jose Berrios pitched well Saturday, at least he was good enough to give the Jays a chance, but there was no run support.
Kikuchi did not pitch well in the series finale, an outing that was by far his worst of the season, so few swing and misses and no strikeouts recorded after the lefty had averaged a little more than six Ks in his past four starts.
Amid so many hits, followed by so many runs and capped off by Varsho’s exploits, Kikuchi’s outing became a mere footnote
One of the Jays’ best was Cavan Biggio, who started in right field and handled the position quite well.
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At the plate, his keen eye was on display as was his occasional penchant for going yard.
It was Biggio’s two-run blast, his second homer of the season, that provided a much-needed jolt after Toronto trailed the Tigers, 5-0.
Once again, an inability to cash in runners denied the Jays in the early stages.
Twice the bases would get loaded, in the second inning with two outs, in the third with none out, but no runs would score.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did record a four-hit game.
No one will remember it when all will remember the crushing loss.
Close but no cigar.
ONE AND DONE
The Jays’ woeful plight at the plate has been well-documented.
Whether it’s baseball or any other sport, punching first is always preferred unless a late-game knockout is produced.
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In terms of setting a tone, scoring in the first at-bats is ideal.
For the Jays, it’s easier said than done.
Take Sunday as an example.
Davis Schneider led off by grounding out.
Danny Jansen popped out.
Vlad Jr. singled.
Bo Bichette then hit into a force out.
Add it up and the Jays failed to score a run in the first inning for the 18th game in a row.
The starting lineup did not feature George Springer and Justin Turner.
Springer, who is signed through 2026, has as many hits (33) as strikeouts this season.
Unless he somehow rediscovers his swing, no one is expecting Springer to move up in the order when he’s in the lineup that is.
Turner was acquired this off-season to provide some punch in the middle of the order.
He has gone deep four times, including two in an April 29 win over Kansas City.
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In the intervening stretch, Turner has gone homerless and has recorded zero multi-hit games.
Turner’s inability with runners in scoring position was pronounced in Saturday’s loss.
He was used as a pinch-hitter Sunday, hitting an RBI groundout as the Jays inched closer in the fifth inning.
Turner then led off the seventh inning by flying out to shallow right field.
He drew a two-out walk in the eighth inning, replaced by Kevin Kiermaier as a pinch runner who came around to score on the Varsho blast.
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NICK OF TIME
Memorial Day may actually turn memorable for the Blue Jays, whose seven-game road trip takes them to Chicago and a date with the woeful Pale Hose.
When the White Sox visited Rogers Centre last week, the Jays took two of three to win their first series in a month.
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The Jays’ beleaguered lineup took full advantage of ChiSox starter Nick Nastrini as the home side plated seven runs in a single inning en route to a 9-2 win.
Nastrini will face the Jays Monday (2:10 p.m. ET) at Guaranteed Rate Field.
When it comes to the Jays’ offence, nothing is ever guaranteed but the sight of Nastrini on the mound should summon more than a few pleasant thoughts.
“I really just wasn’t establishing that upper third of the zone,” said Nastrini following his outing in Toronto, which featured six walks and zero strikeouts.
“When I don’t do that, it kind of makes it tough to pitch.”
Nastrini was able to record only 10 outs, while yielding seven hits.
His counterpart, Chris Bassitt, went a season-high seven innings to earn the win.
The two will oppose each other in the series opener
Kevin Gausman is Tuesday’s scheduled starter followed by Alek Manoah, who is hoping to bounce back from a poor outing in Detroit when he gave up six runs (two unearned) and two home runs in 4.2 innings in a 6-2 loss by the Jays.
Mike Clevinger and Chris Flexen are the scheduled starters for the South Siders.
The Jays will avoid facing Garrett Crochet, who combined with three relievers to two-hit Toronto last Tuesday in a 5-0 win that snapped a four-game losing skid.
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