Things may not be going as successfully as planned for the Toronto Blue Jays so far this season, but there are a couple elements that have come together nicely through the first 24 games of the season and Friday night in Tampa, they paired to bring the club a victory in the opening game of their three-game series with the Rays.
Michael Saunders continued his outstanding hitting from the leadoff position, connecting on a pair of solo home runs while Aaron Sanchez tossed seven innings of six-hit ball, striking out six to pick up is second win of the season as Toronto collected a 6-1 win.
After starting the season with Kevin Pillar at the top of the order, manager John Gibbons moved the left fielder from Victoria, British Columbia into the role and the former Seattle Mariner has responded exceptionally well. The 29-year-old is hitting .368 (14 for 38) at the top of the order and .324 for the season, nearly a hundred points higher than his career average.
Unsure whether he would be a starter or a reliever heading into Spring Training, Sanchez won a role in the rotation and has been strong all season, posting a 2.59 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through five starts, striking out 29 in 31.1 innings while walking 10. Though he struggled last weekend against Oakland (4.1IP, 10H, 6ER), Friday’s outing against the Rays was a tremendous bounce-back performance for the young righty – the kind of showing that should give the ball club confidence in his ability to maintain the role and continue contributing throughout the season.
In addition to Saunders’ contributions, the Jays got home runs from Josh Donaldson and Ryan Goins, plus a two-run single from Justin Smaok in the eighth.
While the night was one of Toronto’s better outings so far this season, it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns, as reliever Drew Storen replaced Sanchez in the bottom of the 8th and promptly gave up a home run to Brad Miller. After striking out Evan Longoria, he was pulled in favour of Brett Cecil.
So far this year, the former Washington Nationals reliever sports a 10.13 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP, atrocious numbers for someone that entered Spring Training in a battle for the closer’s role and was still being counted on to shut opponents down late in games. That’s not happening and if Storen continues to struggle, his place in the bullpen hierarchy could change.
Player of the Game: Aaron Sanchez
Sanchez apparently likes pitching at Tropicana Park in Tampa. So far this season, he’s amassed 14 innings, allowing 11 hits and one run while striking out 14. Last night’s outing was his fourth quality start of the year and the kind of rebound performance you look for in young pitchers with front of the rotation potential.
His ability to step in and hold down a place in the starting five so far this season has been outstanding and Friday’s outing was another indication that the Jays made the right call moving him from the bullpen and that the former first-round pick has a bright future in the rotation.
On Deck: Toronto looks to make it two-in-a-row, but they’re in tough as Tampa sends its ace, Chris Archer, to the mound. The Jays counter with lefty J.A. Happ.
