Blue Jays reverse kind in sloppy loss to Yankees

Article content material

Hours earlier than one of many extra disheartening efforts of the 155 video games the Blue Jays have performed this season, common supervisor Ross Atkins talked bullishly about his group’s prospects for a deep post-season run.

Article content material

Moments after it resulted in a 5-2 loss to the New York Yankees, supervisor John Schneider talked concerning the want for a few of his highest-profile gamers to be extra attentive to element.

Article content material

Someplace within the center lies the reality for a group that in a 24-hour span displayed the maddening inconsistencies which have plagued them this yr.

Article content material

Whereas Yankees gamers celebrated to loud beats and spraying champagne down the Rogers Centre hallways, Schneider lamented a irritating show of base-running within the sixth inning.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Most notably, Schneider was discouraged by a lazy play from the earlier night time’s hero, Vlad Guerrero Jr., who admired a loud fly ball off the left-field wall lengthy sufficient to get caught simply at second base.

Article content material

With the Jays trailing 5-1 — and Bo Bichette previous Guerrero with one other dangerous play at second when he popped up off the bag and was tagged out — it was the kind of mind cramp that received’t fly this time of yr.

And Schneider, justifiably, wasn’t happy.

“Vladdy flat out must run more durable,” the supervisor stated. “That’s inexcusable. I’ll inform him that. We’re on the level the place each little factor issues. Each 90 toes issues and it ought to matter daily of the season.

“That wasn’t one of the best proper there.”

Schneider has had a protracted sufficient historical past with Guerrero to strategy the younger Jays star concerning the play. And he’s additionally not shy about holding his gamers accountable, a high quality that might play nicely if dealt with correctly.

The purpose, after all, is that with eight video games remaining and the enterprise of making an attempt to safe the highest AL wild-card seed nonetheless at hand, the Jays have to be higher.

Article content material

It was one recreation, sure, however the confounding inconsistencies of this Jays group was on show because the group regarded spring-training sloppy reasonably than playoff ready. It couldn’t have been in larger distinction to the hassle the earlier night time when the Jays walked it off within the tenth for a 3-2 win.

Nonetheless, because the architect of a serious rebuild that started in 2016, Atkins is bullish on this group’s prospects.

“I don’t assume there’s something that ought to restrict them,” Atkins stated. “We’re actually able to enjoying with one of the best groups in baseball and hopefully we find yourself being the one.”

In fact, a lot of what might maintain them again was on show within the two hours and 55 minutes it took to play this one.

From one other at-times dodgy outing by starter Jose Berrios to additional entrench lingering doubts on the beginning rotation, to the snafus on the bases, the errors have been considerably regarding.

Article content material

So as to add to the insult, the loss allowed the Yankees to have fun a clinching of the AL East proper there underneath the dome, posing for photos on the infield mound afterwards.

The sweetness — irritating as it may be — of this Jays group has proven it could flush the equal of the aftermath of Loonie Canine night time in a rush, typically rebounding as early as the subsequent day.

And to Atkins’ level, the Jays work by means of the previous couple of months has impressed sufficient confidence to counsel the group is able to happening a sustained run.

Successful a World Collection isn’t at all times the accomplishment of one of the best group, in any case, nevertheless it typically goes to the most well liked — shout out to the reigning champs from Atlanta.

“The largest questions on what we’re centered on is how we will set ourselves up for probably the most success for a push deep into the post-season,” Atkins stated. “Clearly that begins with Recreation 1 of the playoffs however we wish to make sure that we’re cognizant of enjoying so long as potential and as deep as potential.”

Article content material

Truly, the bigger unknowns stay when they are going to clinch, whether or not that features the highest seed within the AL wild-card race and who their opponent shall be when the motion begins on Oct. 8.

With Boston beating Baltimore, the Blue Jays magic quantity is decreased to 2. They’ll clinch a post-season spot on Wednesday with a win over the Yankees and one other Orioles loss.

On Tuesday, the Jays bumped into the electrical stuff of Yankees starter Jameson Taillon, who after permitting a leadoff homer to George Springer, retired 16 of the subsequent 17 Jays batters he confronted.

“Every thing will get magnified this time of yr,” Schneider stated. “Everybody’s drained. Everybody’s grinding. You simply have to depart no margin for error and play arduous.”

BATTLE OF BERRIOS

Article content material

As a lot because the Jays are thrilled with the one-two punch of Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah on the prime of the rotation and the excellent, upstart season of Ross Stripling, the Berrios scenario is a confounding one.

The righty lasted 5.1 innings, scattering 9 hits for 5 earned runs. Positive, it was higher than his earlier outing which lasted simply two innings, however he’s nowhere close to able to be declared a dependable arm for the submit season.

Schneider disagrees with that evaluation, nevertheless, even with Berrios being final within the AL in ERA (5.37) and opponents common (.292.)

“We belief Jose. He’s actually good,” Schneider stated. “It was nice to see him exit and throw the best way he did. A pitch right here or a pitch there and it’s in all probability a bit of totally different final result.”

GAME ON

Springer’s 431-foot homer to get issues began was his ninth leadoff residence run of the season and 52nd of his profession … The Jays caught to their plans of not pitching something worthwhile to Yankees slugger Aaron Choose, holding his home-run chase stalled at 60. The Rogers Centre crowd didn’t respect the cautious strategy, booing loudly after Choose’s eighth-inning plate look resulted in a fourth consecutive stroll.