Glove kept Pillar in until bat heated up
KANSAS CITY, MO.— Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Pillar had some fun Saturday with his growing reputation for stellar defence, spectacular diving catches and highlight-reel performances.
Speaking to reporters before Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, Pillar was asked if it feels like he’s flying when he sails through the air.
“I can fly,” he deadpanned before pausing, as the room filled with laughter. “For a short amount of time.” Pillar set an early defensive tone last April with an all-world catch at Rogers Centre in a 12-7 win over Tampa Bay. He timed his jump perfectly, used the wall as a springboard and got his glove on a Tim Beckham drive to deny him a home run.
The 26-year-old native of West Hills, Calif., didn’t let up after that, regularly leaving mouths agape with a steady string of defensive gems. His speed, hustle and determination helped him land the everyday job in centre field for the first time in his big-league career.
“I think in the moment when you leave your feet and you watch that ball and you know you’ve secured it, time almost seems to stop and it feels like you’re in the air for a while,” Pillar continued. “But I take a lot of pride in and a lot of passion in my defence.
“I know it’s been able to keep me in the lineup when I’ve struggled offensively. And I know our pitching staff appreciates it.”
Pillar’s answer to the follow-up question — do you feel like Superman? — was laced with more humour.
“I have not dressed up as Superman, but I don’t have to because I am Superman,” he joked.
Pillar, who batted .278 in the regular season with12 home runs and 56 RBIs, was 2-for-4 in Game 2 Saturday against the Royals, scoring the game’s first run after leading off the third with a double. ARM STRENGTH: The Royals largely volatile starting pitching took another twist Saturday.
On the heels of Edinson Volquez’s fine six shutout innings against the Jays in Game 1, Yordano Ventura struggled in Game 2, giving up three runs, and eight hits over 51⁄ innings.
3 It broke a string of good starts by the Royals. Johnny Cueto was tremendous in his last game, Game 5 of the ALDS, allowing just two runs and two hits against the Astros to propel the Royals into this series.
This fine span notwithstanding, it still was a reach from this to what manager Ned Yost seemed to be proposing before the game Friday.
“I kind of relate it back to the days when I was with the Atlanta Braves,” Yost said, “and you had (Greg) Maddux, (Tom) Glavine and (John) Smoltz.”
He was referring to the way they’d motivate each other.
“One of those guys would have a big start, and the other ones would always have the mindset, ‘Well, I’m going to go out and do just as good or better than he did,’ ” Yost said. “It’s always kind of like an inner competition within the competition, because they are so close.”