Toronto Blue Jays, Game 15: Piecing Together A Little Winning Streak

The home runs haven't been there lately, but the wins have and that's all that really matters for the Jays.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are going to hit home runs; this we know for sure. During the first 10 games, it was the only way they were scoring runs and they were only coming in fits and starts, leading to a slew of tight games where clutch hits that either appeared or didn’t decided the outcome.

Over the last couple games, however, the Jays have been cobbling together singles and double, making pitchers work and taking what is being given to them and it has result in the club picking up three-straight wins after earning a 4-3 victory in the series opener in Baltimore on Tuesday.

While Monday night’s win relied on Boston’s relievers struggling with their control, last nights victory was about timely hits and making the most of opportunities with runners in scoring position; something that has been a challenge for Toronto in recent seasons. It’s still not great, as the Jays left eight men on base, but beggars can’t be choosers and Tuesday’s performance was a good start.

Ryan Goins opened the scoring with an RBI ground out to first in the Top of the 2nd. Troy Tulowitzki doubled home two more an inning later, lacing one to left after Michael Saunders doubled and Jose Bautista dropped a single into right. They added one more in the Top of the 7th when Bautista doubled to center and it turned out to be a critical run as starter Marcus Stroman gave up his second home run of the night – a two-run blast to Matt Wieters – in the Orioles’ half, drawing the home team to within one before Roberto Osuna eventually took the mound in the Bottom of the 8th to record a four-out save, his fifth in as many attempts early this season.

Outside of the two home runs, the diminutive ace Stroman pitched well, getting through seven giving up six hits, one walk and striking out three to move his record to 3-0 on the year.

This was one of those early season games that Toronto needed to win and they managed to get it done. As much as the season is long and it’s easy to discount late April ball games, continuing to put up victories when the high-powered offense still isn’t clicking on all cylinders is crucial and rather than coming out flat on Tuesday, the Jays kept chipping away and cobbled together a victory.

Perhaps the most telling stat of the season thus far – and the one that really speaks to the highs and lows of this club through 15 games – is that the win moved Toronto to 5-0 this season when they strike out fewer than 10 times. Cut down on the Ks and watch the Ws keep piling up.

Player of the Game: Roberto Osuna

Consider this equal parts cumulative for the start of his season and his performance on Tuesday night. The young closer has been perfect in save situations and picked up a four-out save to ensure Toronto pushed its winning streak to three in the first of three against Baltimore, getting Mark Trumbo to fly out with two on to end the eighth before getting a 1-2-3 ninth to finish things off.

While there was some talk of shifting him from the closer role in Spring Training following the acquisition of Drew Storen, Osuna earned the position (or maintained it) and has validated that backing so far this season.

On Deck: These two teams are back it again tonight with R.A. Dickey taking the bump for the Blue Jays, while the Orioles counter with Ubaldo Jiminez. Game time is 7:05pm ET/4:05pm PT.

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