Another Blew Jays meltdown
Rob Longley Too many victories have escaped Toronto’s grasp this season
It was just one game in a season of 162. That’s the pragmatic, self-preservation conclusion the Blue Jays would have tried to take with them on what had to be a gloomy charter flight Sunday out of Houston.
It’s about the only way to stay on the level through the rigours of a season that must at times seem endless, but almost every day affords a new opportunity.
Still, there was no denying that Sunday’s 7-6 walk-off loss to the Houston Astros left a mark on the Jays, a stain that may be tough to expunge for the rest of the season.
Quite frankly, there have been too many ridiculous losses among the 59 in 111 games this season, games that were well in control only to be handed back. It’s only one reason they’re in the mess they’re in, but a significant one.
To recap, Sunday had the opportunity to be a momentum-building victory for the Jays, one that might keep the flicker of playoff hope alive. It would have been the seventh win in 10 games and clinched a 4-3 season series with the best team in the American League.
So enter all-star closer Roberto Osuna with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and a chance to clinch a win that would have moved his team to within 41/2 games of an AL wild-card spot. Would have been a nice thing to take back for a 10-game homestand that begins Tuesday against the Yankees.
Three hits later, including a clutch two-run triple from the Astros’ Alex Bregman and a 6-3 lead was a 7-6 walk-off loss.
It left manager John Gibbons shaking his head afterward, a loss typical of a team that too often has been unable to get enough things right on the same day.
To Osuna’s credit, he admitted he hung too many juicy offerings on the edge of the strike zone. Even worse, his velocity is off, much like it was for portions of spring training. For much of the time since, Osuna was ultra reliable, finishing off 22 consecutive save opportunities at one point, which helped book him passage to Miami for the All-Star Game.
“It’s a thing that happens in baseball,” Osuna said of the spectacular blow up. “The past 10 days haven’t been too great for me, but I’ve got to work on my stuff. I’ve got to get better.”
Now that he’s blown saves in three of his past five appearances, you can add the 22-year-old closer to the list of struggles with this team.
If it isn’t Josh Donaldson or Jose Bautista struggling at the plate or Marco Estrada losing his command for a month, or the season-long saga of the Aaron Sanchez blister or Troy Tulowitzki becoming the latest player headed for a long trip on the disabled list, it always seems to be something. And too often more than one at a time.
Don’t bet against Osuna turning things around as he’s already proven capable of doing so this season. But on days like Sunday, it must feel like Game 162 can’t come soon enough for a team that has spent every day of the season in last place and not once hit the .500 mark.
Astros on Stro
Astros manager A.J. Hinch was rather forthright in weekend comments about Jays starter Marcus Stroman, who was in line to match a career high with his 11th win before the disastrous ninth.
“He pitches with a lot of emotion and there’s a lot that goes on the mound for him,” Hinch said. “He feeds off of emotion. He feeds off of the confrontation and he’s got the stuff to back it up.”
Hinch said opposing hitters react to Stroman in different ways, but the Astros weren’t about to buy into the act. As Stroman acknowledged post-game on Sunday, the Houston hitters were aggressive in their approach against him.
“It’s mostly an eye roll for the players,” Hinch said of Stroman’s motivational histrionics. “Obviously it’s a confrontation when it’s one-on-one with the hitter and the pitcher. He’s got a lot of emotion and he’s good at it. He antagonizes, but does keep himself in check.
“He’s one of those guys around the league where you probably love him when he’s on your team and you want to beat him really bad when you face him. But you can’t buy into those games and get caught up in the moment. It’s just a distraction.”
Astronomical offence
The Jays will certainly be pleased that they’ve seen the last of the Astros, who lead all of baseball with 656 runs and 1,133 hits.
Sixty-three of those runs came in the seven meetings versus the AL East basement dwellers.
“You really have to be on your game all night,” Stroman said of facing the prolific Astros lineup. “They were pretty aggressive and they put the ball in play.”
In particular Jose Altuve, who has a major-league best .364 batting average, is a tough out.
“He’s unbelievable,” Stroman said. “He has zero holes in his swing. He has an extreme amount of plate coverage for someone who’s small. He’s extremely aggressive.
“He can put the barrel on essentially any pitch, so he’s an extremely tough out man.”