Blue Jays bidding farewell to Gibbons
Toronto delivers win for outgoing manager
TORONTO — John Gibbons wanted to end his time in Toronto on a winning note. His players made sure he got that wish.
The Blue Jays — backed by homers from rookie Reese McGuire and Randal Grichuk — topped the defending World Series champion Houston Astros 3-1 on Wednesday in Gibbons’ final home game as Toronto’s manager, guaranteeing him a managerial win-loss record above .500.
“I didn’t want to end up below .500 because then they call you a loser,” Gibbons said with a chuckle hours after the team announced the long-expected news that he would not be returning next season.
“It worked out good, it worked out OK.”
The win improved Gibbons to 792-787 over his two stints with the Blue Jays, who wrap up the season with a three-game road series against Tampa Bay this weekend.
General manager Ross Atkins announced that Gibbons, who still had a year left on the contract extension he signed in 2017, would not return.
“What I learned from being in that interview room was that he was four games above .500 for his career and if we could get one win he’d finish his tenure here as a winner,” said Kevin Pillar, the team’s longest serving player who attended the pre-game conference. “You kinda want to come through that line and give your manager a handshake after a win, and it was extra special knowing it was his last one at home.”
McGuire, a September call-up, led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot off Houston reliever Cionel Perez for his first MLB homer.
Grichuk supplied the rest of the offence for the Blue Jays (72-87) with a two-run blast in the first inning.
But Gibbons was the star of the day, getting standing ovations from the 22,828 in attendance.