Jays’ Tepera learns valuable lesson

In long relief, ‘nice and easy’ better than overthrowing

NEW YORK • A light came on for Ryan Tepera on Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays right-hander has been a pro since 2009 but he said every day, every outing, he tries to learn something new. That certainly was the case on Sunday afternoon when he took over from Aaron Sanchez in the second inning and worked a career high 3.1 innings, helping the Jays down the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.

“I knew I had to throw multiple innings, so I was kind of nice and easy with the delivery and didn’t try to overthrow and I think I really learned something from that. Just to not overthrow,” said the 29-yearold reliever.

“Sometimes I get in the habit of just overthrowing and actually the pitches are worse and (Sunday) I was just focused on executing pitches and hitting the mitt and just staying nice and easy and that made my four-seam fastball better.

“Something I’ve never done a whole lot is pitch up in the zone but Sunday, it felt great and I was able to locate it. Before when I would try to go up in the zone, the ball would almost go over their head. They wouldn’t even attempt (to swing) at it. On Sunday, I focused on staying back, not rushing the delivery and just executing.”

Tepera said he also learned from Sunday’s outing that if he attempts to “hump up” his fastball, he’ll hit 95-96 mph. But he can also hit the same speed by throwing nice and easy.

“And it’s still 94-95 and better located,” he said. “So, yeah, it was a big learning experience, for sure.”

Tepera described Sunday’s outing as a big confidence-builder and he hopes to keep it up, to the point where manager John Gibbons eventually makes him a regular late-inning reliever, something Gibbons also believes can happen.

“There were times I didn’t have a regular role last year and it was kind of hit and miss when I would pitch. But it’s just a matter of getting those continuous reps and getting that chance and just running with it,” said Tepera. “I’ve always had the confidence and this year even more so because I had such a good spring.”

Sunday’s game marked only the second time in the last 30 seasons that the Jays won a game when their starter failed to record more than three outs and the bullpen allowed no more than one run. The other time was against Philadelphia in 2012 when Drew Hutchison was forced to leave the game due to an elbow injury after facing on three batters. finger, is still with the Jays, though he was put on the 10-day DL on Monday.

“The plan is in a few days when we go down to Florida from here (New York), if he’s feeling good, he can go to the Gulf Coast League and throw a few innings and test it out again,” said Gibbons. “Everybody thinks it shouldn’t be very long.”

Someone suggested that it must be particularly frustrating for Sanchez to be bumped to the DL for such a minor injury because he keeps himself in such good shape.

“Maybe he needs more fat on his body and then things won’t become so brittle. I didn’t have any problems with my nails,” said Gibbons with a laugh. The Jays skipper, of course, is a former major league catcher, not known necessarily for his extreme fitness.

Gibbons said left-hander J.A. Happ (left elbow soreness), third baseman Josh Donaldson, (right calf strain) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (right hamstring strain) all travelled to Florida following Sunday’s game to continue their rehab.

Gibbons said Happ played catch two days ago and felt good. He is also hopeful that Donaldson and Tulowitzki will be ready to play when the club returns to play at the Rogers Centre next Monday against Cleveland.

“But it’s hard to say,” said the manager.

The Jays recalled right-hander Danny Barnes from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday with Sanchez going on the DL. Barnes can give them a few innings of middle relief if necessary.

Opponents have a chase percentage of 34.5 (10/29) against Tepera on the first pitch of at-bats this season, which ranks first out of 48 qualified right-handers in MLB ... Jose Bautista has 33 career home runs (heading into Monday night’s game) against the Yankees, tied for the most by any active player (Evan Longoria of Tampa also has 33) ... Even with Sanchez on the DL, Gibbons doesn’t feel the club will need to recall another starting pitcher until at least May 9 (if Happ and/ or Sanchez aren’t back by then) as the club has a day off on Thursday. Right-hander Mat Latos is slated to face New York on Tuesday followed by right-hander Marcus Stroman on Wednesday and then left- hander Francisco Liriano on Friday in Tampa Bay.