Blue Jays' series win over Phillies gives fans hope for good things to come
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The Toronto Blue Jays series win over the Philadelphia Phillies felt a lot more legitimate to Jays fans than a sweep over the lowly Athletics.
A four-game sweep over a terrible Athletics team last week was great, however that wasn't a clear indicator of where the Blue Jays are at. Every team in the league has been padding their stats against the A's.
Instead, how they played against a Phillies team that entered this three-game series at Rogers Centre with the fifth-best record in baseball was going to be a more appropriate measuring stick.
A 9-1 trouncing over the Phillies on Thursday allowed them to take two of three, the Blue Jays can now confidently say they've tested their metal.
«We'll take any wins we can get but obviously them coming in here, I told everyone I think this is the first- or second-best team in the NL,» said Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt. «With their starting pitching and their offence, they can easily win a World Series. So yeah, to take two of three from them was obviously big.»
Particularly impressive was how well the Blue Jays rebounded from Tuesday's drubbing by the Phillies.
The home side played a tight game on Wednesday before ultimately walking off Philadelphia with Alejandro Kirk's ninth-inning heroics against Jordan Romano.
Then, on Thursday, the Blue Jays rode an excellent start from Bassitt, along with a home run from Bo Bichette and key contributions from the bottom of the order to a convincing victory in front of 33,728.
«I continue to think that we're a good team and we can play with anyone,» said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. «I love the way they went about it. It's kind of been their MO the whole year, really big win last night and to carry it over against another tough starter, it says a lot about the guys.»
Davis Schneider got things started in the second when he ripped a single to left off Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo and then scored from first on Myles Straw's double to the right-centre field gap.
Tyler Heineman added an RBI double of his own and Bichette put an exclamation mark on the frame with an opposite-field, two-run homer that pushed the score to 4-0.
That marked Bichette's eighth homer in the last 30 games after going the first 32 contests without clearing the yard.
«There's a ton I still need to get better at, but I feel alright,» Bichette said. «Just trying to be myself again.»
Schneider reached base again in the third, helping to pave the way for Straw's bases-loaded single that cashed in two runners.
Jonatan Clase then drew a walk and Heineman lofted a fly ball to left that shortstop Trea Turner couldn't handle.
That gifted the Blue Jays two more runs and a lead that proved insurmountable given the way Bassitt was throwing.
The right-hander, coming off his two worst outings of the season, looked strong from the outset Thursday, retiring 11 of the first 13 batters he faced.
The only real damage came in the sixth, when he surrendered an RBI single to Kyle Schwarber.
A Nick Castellanos single extended the threat, but Bassitt induced an inning-ending ground out from Max Kepler.
In total, Bassitt allowed one run on five hits over seven innings, walking two and striking out six on 99 pitches.
He consistently pitched inside to hitters and relied on an effective sinker, throwing it 40 per cent of the time, while mixing in his cutter (26 per cent) and curveball (20 per cent), along with three other offerings.
The right-hander said his success stemmed from a move back to the first-base side of the rubber.
That helped his command and allowed Bassitt to feel a level of comfort on the mound that was missing this season.
«The last couple outings I've had to constantly sit back and be like, 'Is this the right thing?' For my whole career, I pitched from the first-base side,» said Bassitt. «Last year, moved to the third-base side. Obviously, we're two months in now and I just wasn't happy with where I was at. I wasn't happy with the length I was giving. I wasn't happy with the consistency. I wasn't happy with how my body was feeling. So, it made it an easy move.»
Bassitt also lauded the Blue Jays' offence for handing him a giant lead to work with.
On Thursday, the lineup's bottom four hitters largely drove that, combining to score five runs and collect six RBIs.
Contributions from unlikely sources have been a welcome development for the club this season.
«It's been our whole lineup,» said Bichette. «Everybody's competing.»
The Blue Jays have now won eight of their past 10 games and improved to 33-29, a season-high four games above .500.
That's brought some good vibes as the team embarks on a nine-game road trip against the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals and Phillies.
That's three formidable clubs that are currently holding playoff spots. So, while the Blue Jays just passed a big test against the Phillies, they can't put down their pencils just yet.
And, according to Bichette, there will be other failed tests along the way.
«I'm sure there will be more,» he said. «We just got to focus on what we're doing now. Just continue to show up to the field and continue to focus on playing good baseball and pick each other up. That's what a baseball season is - ups and downs. They come and go throughout the whole season and we've got more than halfway left.»
With more than 100 games left do you think the Blue Jays can win the division or just make the playoffs?
Tell us what you think in the poll below.
Source: Sportsnet
Blue Jays pass key test with series win over Phillies
Blue Jays pass key test with series win over Phillies
| POLL | ||
JUIN 6 | 128 ANSWERS Blue Jays' series win over Phillies gives fans hope for good things to come With more than 100 games left do you think the Blue Jays can win the division or just make the playoffs? | ||
| Win the Division | 40 | 31.3 % |
| Make the playoffs | 80 | 62.5 % |
| Niether | 8 | 6.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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