Chapman, Kikuchi get Blue Jays back on track in opener against woeful Tigers
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Though the Detroit Tigers, came to town to start a four-game series with one of the worst records in baseball, the visitors gave the Jays a scare with a late rally following a fine start by Kikuchi, before falling 5-3.
Blue Jays’ Matt Chapman hits a two- run home run in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Rogers Centre Thursday night. Getty Images Article content
Matt Chapman kept rolling, Yusei Kikuchi returned to form and so did the Blue Jays on Thursday night.
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Though the Detroit Tigers, came to town to start a four-game series with one of the worst records in baseball, the visitors gave the Jays a scare with a late rally following a fine start by Kikuchi, before falling 5-3.
Kikuchi had struggled in a July 5 start, walking four without striking out a batter and had been out ever since with a neck strain, but was much better in this one. Kikuchi went five strong innings, surrendering just a solo Willi Castro home run, a pair of hits and a walk, while striking out five. Kikuchi dropped his ERA to 4.89 and improved to 4-5.
Meanwhile, third baseman Chapman continued his recent tear with a pair of home runs which turned a tie game into a 4-1 Jays lead. Chapman has hit seven of his 18 homers over his last seven games since snapping an 0-for-16 hitless streak.
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Seven Jays notched at least one hit, including Vladimir Guerrero, who has now hit safely in nine straight and has gone hitless in just three games this month. Guerrero easily could have had a pair, but Castro made a tremendous running grab in centre in the seventh that left Guerrero tipping his cap.
Detroit had been outscored by the Jays 17-4 in Michigan in a three-game set last month that was dominated by Toronto pitching, but stuck around in this one.
Jonathan Schoop got a run back for the visitors in the seventh with a solo home run against Tim Mayza.
The low point for the Jays came in the eighth when Bo Bichette and Lourdes Gurriel collided while chasing a popup, along with Chapman. The ball popped loose, putting Tigers at first and second with no out against Jimi Garcia. Detroit loaded the bases for future hall of famer Miguel Cabrera, but Cabrera popped out to right field. George Springer had shifted there and made a strong throw home which forced the Tigers to hold the runner at third. The Tigers made it 4-3 on a sacrifice fly, which prompted the call for all-star closer Jordan Romano in search of a four-out save. Romano got a first-pitch groundout to end the eighth and Danny Jansen gave the Jays some breathing room with a long sacrifice fly to left to make it 5-3 after some small-ball had moved runners around to second and third before he came up.
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Springer left the game before the top of the ninth inning with an apparent elbow injury after a couple of long throws and a swing aggravated something.
Jays manager John Schneider had some good early news on George Springer: “He’s feeling good. He kind of had a high-impact game. Just a little bit of elbow discomfort. It probably looked worse than it is right now. We’ll check him out tomorrow and see how he is.”
SHAPIRO DEADLINE ADDS?
When Jays president Mark Shapiro met with the media earlier Thursday to reveal plans to renovate Rogers Centre over the next two off-seasons, he hinted at more spending by Rogers sooner.
“By the time we are done over $300 million will be used in the renovation of this building,” Shapiro said. “It’s really not an isolated investment, but a continuation of the investment that was made at the player development complex, that continues to be made in player personnel, and hopefully continues to be made over the next five days and next off-season and beyond as we continue to build on a championship core and a drive toward that world championship, which is the ultimate goal here,” he said.
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The trade deadline comes Tuesday and it’s no secret Toronto is seeking bullpen help, along with a left-handed batter, amongst other things.
CHANNELING MANOAH
Toronto’s latest first-round pick is looking to follow in the footsteps of another recent high selection.
Brandon Barriera was taken by the Jays 23rd overall in the MLB Draft earlier this month and has already signed with the club. Barriera will have a video call with the Toronto media on Friday, but the Sun’s Rob Longley caught up with him in Los Angeles last week. Barriera, an 18-year-old lefty, told the Sun he believes is two-three years away from the Majors — at most — and sees some of his personality in Manoah.
“His competitiveness. Day in and day out, you can see it. He plays with a lot of energy,” Barriera said.
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“That’s exactly how I play, so it’s cool to see someone in the Big Leagues play exactly my way.”
Barriera hails from Brooklyn and will have to switch allegiances after growing up a big Yankees and Andy Pettitte fan. Former Jay Marcus Stroman, another New York native, was his next favourite player after Pettitte, so the Blue Jays aren’t completely foreign to him, even if he’s not yet been to Canada.
Barriera sounded happy to land with the Jays.
“They’re a great organization. They develop their guys and they play their young guys which is a big thing. If you’re playing good, they’re not scared to bring you up. They move you up pretty quick so that’s great to see and I’d love to be a part of it,” he said.
AROUND THE BASES
Teoscar Hernandez had two outfield assists (in the same inning no less) in Wednesday’s loss against St. Louis. Since 2018, only Hunter Renfroe (44) has more outfield assists than Hernandez’s 43 … In case you missed it, catcher Gabriel Moreno is now atop Baseball America’s prospect list. Moreno is hitting .317 with an .800 OPS in AAA Buffalo … Jays ace Manoah was set to pitch Friday against a to-be-determined Tigers starter, with Detroit likely going with a bullpen day. Saturday was set to be Ross Stripling against ex-Jay Drew Hutchison, with Jose Berrios facing Garrett Hill in Sunday’s series finale … New TFC winger Federico Bernardeschi was on hand sporting a jersey. Bernardeschi yelled out “Let’s go Blue Jays” while pumping his fists when he spotted himself on the video board.
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