Jays get big bats back in the lineup

Steve Buffery in Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was talking about depth on Friday, though he isn’t digging a swimming pool.

Tulowitzki, who returned to the lineup Friday after missing 31 games with a right hamstring injury, said he was impressed with the way the Jays bounced back with himself and third baseman Josh Donaldson away for an extended period of time.

Donaldson, who missed 38 games with a right calf strain, also returned to the Toronto lineup against the Texas Rangers on Friday night, when the Jays survived a ninthinning scare to edge the Rangers 7-6.

“I think that’s what makes the team strong is when some core guys go down, we have some guys that can step in and hold the fort down until the guys come back and that’s exactly what they did. I think in the long run that’s going to make us a better team because you’re not going to be healthy the whole year,” said Tulowitzki.“Come playoff time or crunch time or whatever it may be, you can count on those guys. Whether it be pinch hits, pinch running, you give some of your (backup) guys roles and those guys did a great job. We know that (and we’re) very appreciative of what they did, and that’s why they’re pros.”

In Tulowitzki’s absence, Ryan Goins played the majority of games at short and, as usual, his glove was top notch. He also contributed with some big hits. Goins is batting .364 with runners in scoring position and has hit four home runs including his career first grand slam on May 24. Manager John Gibbons said Goins isn’t going anywhere.

“I think right now, his confidence is sky high, as high as it’s ever been,” said the manager. “There were questions whether he was going to make the team out of spring. He was out of options. Of course, B. J. Upton was around still then and we were trying to figure out what made the team stronger. Fortunately we kept him.”

Gibbons said there will still be plenty of times when the team calls on Goins.

“Tulo’s going to need some days to guard against that leg a little bit. Devon ( Travis) is going to need a little breather with his knee every now and then. And we still got ( Darwin) Barney who’s done some really good things too, and (Chris) Coghlan, Coghlan did a nice job in sporadic playing time,” Gibbons said.

Tulowitzki, who appeared in five rehab games with Dunedin, going 4- f or- 14 (. 286) with one home run, said he is grateful that the club played well enough in their absence to still be within striking distance of a playoff spot.

“It’s still early. I said that when we got off to that bad start,” said Tulowitzki. “There’s so much time left. And, yeah, these guys did a nice job holding it together. No one ran away with the division, not like anybody does this early, but there’s definitely an opportunity out there and hopefully with this veteran ball club we can make the most of it.”

The Jays are hoping to go on a big run to get back in the playoff race.

“( But) it’s not that easy,” said Tulowitzki. “If you get back two guys, then all of a sudden (you think) this team is going to go on a run? It’s baseball, anything can happen and that’s what makes it fun, right?”