Jays breeze with the greatest of E’s
PHILADELPHIA— Double steal: Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion.
Savour the moment. It likely will never happen again.
But there was Double-E, for the second time in four days — which would also be his second time all season — busting a gut and staking thievery-claim to a bag, chugging for second, which had just been vacated by Donaldson, filching third. Only stolen base No. 5 — we prefer Chanel No. 5 — for the reigning MVP.
A vignette from Citizens Bank Park on a double-whammy night for Encarnacion and Donaldson, each jacking home-run balls in the Blue Jays’ 7-2 win over the Phillies.
Double-double it was, despite the pilfer-times-two occurring on a wild pitch from Philly starter Jeremy Hellickson, with Russell Martin at the plate either deliberately or awkwardly showing bunt, the ball in any event skittering to the screen.
Still counted as steals, though, with both Jays — Big Daddy and Big Bopper, on board via walks — coming ’round to score in that fourth inning, Donaldson on Martin’s sacrifice fly and Encarnacion shortly thereafter on a two-out single by Ryan Goins.
In fact, because homers can get hohum with this club, Donaldson stood out more for his stunning defence on back-to-back plays, particularly the backhand snag, pivot and precariously balanced firing from foul territory to throw Hellickson out at first.
“It’s something I came into this season really trying to get better at,” Donaldson said of his D, “and I feel like I’m as good as I’ve been, if not better, over there right now.’’
On that play, with what seemed an effortless throw, Donaldson reveiled he’s been practising it daily. “I haven’t had a chance to really do that in a game. It was nice to be able to execute. It’s fun. Defence is fun.’’
Well, most everything is fun around the Jays these days.
Even on an evening when starter Marco Estrada didn’t have, by his own admission, his best stuff, he still left the game in possession of a franchise record: 10 straight starts giving up five hits or less. So, proud of yourself Marco? Hold any meaning for you, that annuls footnote? He blinks those chocolate brown eyes: “No.”
Then, perhaps realizing his response might not fly right with the brass, he edits himself: “I mean, I don’t know. It’s good I guess.” Pause. “Awesome.”
Warming up to the idea, maybe, or being corporately correct: “I threw OK. We won. I’m a happy guy.’’
Grateful, especially, to Donaldson, sparing him a hit — maybe a double — to the other team’s starter.
“As soon as he caught it, it’s almost like I knew he was going to make the play. And I know it’s an extremely difficult play. But I’ve seen him do enough that, once he catches it, he’s going to make the play.”