Loss fails to dent Jays’ optimism
TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays looked more like the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Thursday as manager John Gibbons gave his talented group of September callups an opportunity to play at the Major League level.
First baseman Rowdy Tellez had three doubles and drove in a run in his second career game as the Blue Jays fell to the Cleveland Indians 9-4.
Despite the lopsided loss, there was a positive air in Toronto’s clubhouse with many of the team’s prospects showing glimpses of their potential.
“I’ve pretty much played with half of these guys at some point,” said Tellez, craning his neck over assembled media to scan locker nameplates around the clubhouse. “I played with all of them at spring training or elsewhere in the minors — pretty much everybody here.”
Tellez, who made his debut as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning of a 10-3 win over Tampa on Wednesday, became the first player to have an extra-base hit in his first three plate appearances since Major League Baseball’s live-ball era began in 1920.
“It still doesn’t feel real being here,” said Tellez, who was unaware of his record-setting performance. “Childhood dreams are achieved and it’s a great feeling. I’m ecstatic to be here.”
Francisco Lindor had a pair of solo home runs and added a tiebreaking RBI single to lead the Indians (80-60).
The team removed its controversial Chief Wahoo logo for the series opener, taking the caricature of a Native American man off the left sleeve of its jerseys and wearing hats with a red C on a navy blue field instead. Cleveland plans to stop using the logo for the 2019 season.
Jason Kipnis added a late threerun bomb to back starter Shane Bieber (9-3), who allowed four runs, three earned, and struck out six in 6 innings. Relievers Tyler Olson, Alan Cimber, Cody Allen and Dan Otero didn’t allow a run the rest of the way.
Sam Gaviglio (3-8) threw 41⁄3 innings for the Blue Jays (63-77), striking out four but giving up five runs on six hits. Jose Fernandez, Justin Shafer, Danny Barnes, David Paulino and Mark Leiter Jr., came out of Toronto’s bullpen. Shafer allowed one unearned run in his inning of relief and Leiter gave up Kipnis’s three-run homer in the ninth.
Teoscar Hernandez added an RBI double for Toronto, while catcher Reese McGuire made his MLB debut, hitting a double in the ninth inning. He also made an impressive defensive play in the fourth when he picked off Jose Ramirez from his knees as Cleveland’s third baseman tried to steal second.