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After losing the first two game of their weekend set against the visiting Detroit Tigers, the Blue Jays donned their baby blue uniforms on Sunday — a re-imagined version of the original classic.
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Longing for much better days, the air of nostalgia seemed quite appropriate as a handful of players on the current Jays roster may not be around as changes await.
In the series finale, the Jays’ veteran group showed the way in a 5-4 victory to avoid being swept.
George Springer evoked memories of when he was among the game’s elite, belting a pair of home runs in a 3-for-4 afternoon while driving in three.
With the score tied 4-4, Justin Turner led off with an opposite-field single and eventually scored the winning run on Ernie Clement’s single.
One bad inning aside, Kevin Gausman, making his first start in 10 days because of the all-star break, gave the Jays a solid outing.
The righty went 6.2 innings and was in control, save for the sixth inning when he gave up a leadoff single, back-to-back two-out walks and a grand slam to rookie Justyn-Henry Malloy that briefly put the Tigers in front 4-3.
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And Chad Green came on to get a five-out save, but not before the Tigers gave the Jays a scare.
With runners at first and second and one out in the eighth inning, Carson Kelly — the first batter Green faced — launched a ball to deep left field. But a perfectly timed leap at the warning track by Daulton Varsho prevented the Tigers from tying the game.
A pop-out ended the inning as a collective sigh of relief was palpable. Green then got the Tigers in order in the ninth for his seventh save.
It should be noted the Jays started the game with Davis Schneider in left and Varsho in centre. A late defensive switch, in other words, did pay off.
SPRINGER DINGERS
It was quite the afternoon for Springer in general, but in particular the first inning.
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On the game’s first pitch, Tigers’ Wenceel Perez turned on a centre-cut fastball and drilled it into right field. Springer, at first, had trouble picking up the ball but recovered to make a leaping catch a few feet short of the wall.
He then led off Toronto’s first inning with a no-doubt home run to left-centre. For Springer, it was his first leadoff home run this season. On baseball’s career list, only the legendary Rickey Henderson (81) has more leadoff homers than Springer (58).
In the third inning, Springer went deep again — a two-run blast as the Jays extended their lead to 3-0.
In keeping with the numbers theme, it marked the 23th multi-homer game for Springer. Not bad for someone whom Jays fans were more than willing to run out of town earlier in the season.
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For the record, only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (16) has hit more home runs than Springer (13) this season for the Blue Jays.
Springer’s resurgence at the plate may entice a contending team to inquire as the trade deadline approaches. But the main stumbling block can be summed up in one figure — the $50 million owed Springer in the final two years beyond this season.
The Jays broke the bank when they gave the former World Series MVP a six-year deal worth $150 million US in 2021.
Springer’s defence has never come under question, whether he’s been raking or struggling at the plate.
Take for instance the long run he made in the fifth inning when he caught Gio Urshela’s fly ball in foul territory.
One inning later, Springer sprinted out of the box and turned a single into a double with a head-first slide into second base.
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He then came around to score on Spencer Horwitz’s single as the Jays tied the game, 4-4.
BO FALLOUT
With Bo Bichette not expected back any time soon following his latest calf injury, officially diagnosed as a moderate strain, the Jays will showcase Leo Jimenez at shortstop.
Sunday marked the seventh start for Jimenez at short. He has also started at second base.
When Jimenez, a touted prospect, was called up by the big-league club earlier this month, it was viewed by many as the first domino in a push to go younger. In reality, he was called up when Isiah Kiner-Falefa hurt his knee during the pre-game warmups and won’t return for another few weeks.
No Bo, no IKF, but plenty of Jimenez moving forward.
At least the Blue Jays can evaluate Jimenez on the big-league stage without worrying that it will impede a post-season push.
The kid has shown he isn’t overwhelmed or overmatched and despite an 0-for-4 afternoon on Sunday, is hitting a respectable .267 (8-for-30).
Jimenez and Danny Jansen were the only two in the starting lineup who did not record a hit on an afternoon when the Jays produced a total of 11.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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