‘Freak accident,’ Smoak says of Grichuk collision

Justin Smoak has seen plenty on the baseball diamond during his major-league career, and he could have done without watching a Blue Jays teammate suffer an injury under bizarre circumstances.

Smoak, from his spot at first base, and right fielder Randal Grichuk were chasing down a foul ball in the fourth inning on Sunday against the Cleveland Indians when Grichuk slid and crashed face-first into a metal stool behind a security guard.

“Oh, man,” Smoak said. “I peeked at him and I saw him sliding trying to make a play there, and I peeled out and all of a sudden I heard him get clocked with a chair in the face.

“He was (conscious). I just told him to stay down, just in case. I didn’t want him to come up and have blood be everywhere or something like that.”

Smoak said he did not notice the security guard, who failed in trying to get out of the way.

“Especially here at the dome, you have to keep your eye on the ball,” Smoak said. “I had no clue where he was. No chance either of us were worried about a security guard.

“They have been there since I have been here and we have not had a problem.

“Think it was just one of those freak accidents.”

ROWDY LAUGHTER

John Gibbons couldn’t help but laugh when he was asked after the Jays’ 6-2 win whether he expects a battle between Smoak and Rowdy Tellez at first base when the manager arrives at spring training next year.

Everyone, himself included, is expecting Gibbons to be gone after this season.

“Could you repeat that?” Gibbons said with a smile. “Smoaky is the first baseman, he is under contract (a club option for 2019), it’s way too early for that.

“But Rowdy, everybody has liked him, always thought he was going to be a good player. He’s still a young kid, but there is no doubt he has opened some eyes here.

“I think we are just starting to get a look at what he is able to do. He is not going to do this forever (be consistently hot at the plate). But he can be the first baseman of the future here, you know? Probably should be.”

Tellez had a quiet day at the plate on Sunday, going 0-for-4 after rapping seven extra-base hits, including six doubles and a home run, in his first four games.

With his solo home run on Saturday, Tellez became the second Jay in team history to start his majorleague career with a four-game RBI streak. Jesse Barfield did the same in 1981.

STEAL THIS BASE

The Jays haven’t exactly been poster children on the basepaths this season where stolen bases are involved, as they entered the game with 36, the second-fewest in the majors and more than only the 32 recorded by the Oakland Athletics.

Toronto’s 37th stolen base of 2018, however, resulted in a run and a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third.

After Reese Mcguire walked to lead off, he raced to second ahead of the throw of Indians catcher Yan Gomes for the stolen base, the first of Mcguire’s major-league career. Smoak then singled him home.

“The hit and run was on and ( batter Lourdes Gurriel) didn’t make contact,” Gibbons said. “It was a tough breaking ball so it’s an awkward throw for a catcher to make and that’s how he got that. He runs pretty good.”