Granderson powers Blue Jays
Curtis Granderson started doing some math in the Blue Jays dugout after Toronto took a 12-run lead against the Baltimore Orioles.
Playing in the 1,849th game of his Major League Baseball career, Granderson was trying to figure out if what Toronto second baseman Devon Travis had just told him was true: that his six RBIs in the Blue Jays’ 133 win on Sunday really were the most of his 15-year career.
“I didn’t know that until someone said it to me, and I said ‘Six?’ so I had to do the math to figure out where the six came from,” said Granderson, counting his fingers after the game. “It’s crazy to think that guys have had 10 RBIs in a game or gotten more than that.”
The 37-year-old Granderson has had multiple five-RBI games before, with the last coming on April 22, 2016, when his New York Mets beat Atlanta 6-3. On Sunday, he had a single, two doubles and a three-run homer.
Kendrys Morales, Teoscar Hernandez and Kevin Pillar also hit home runs as the Blue Jays (30-35) had a season-high 19 hits to complete a fourgame sweep of the Orioles.
The win, coupled with Tampa Bay’s 5-4 loss to Seattle earlier Sunday, moved the Blue Jays ahead of the Rays for third in the AL East. Toronto starts a three-game series in Tampa, Fla. today.
“It’s good to know that, regardless of where we’re at over the course of a season, we’re going to have highs and lows and you’re going to get a reminder that this team is still very good,” said Granderson.
Marco Estrada (3-6) was superb, striking out nine over six-plus innings, allowing two solo home runs. It was Toronto’s seventh consecutive quality start — when a starting pitcher allows three or fewer runs and pitches a minimum of six innings — and Estrada’s second in a row.
“We’re pitching great, we’re pitching the way we’re supposed to,” said Estrada. “We have a really good rotation and it’s showing, as of late. It sucks that we’ve had some ups and downs as the season gone on but we’re starting to find our groove right now and everyone seems to be putting it together.”
Joe Biagni gave up a run in one inning of relief and Tim Mayza had two scoreless innings of work.
Despite the solidperformance, Mayza will be optioned down to triple-A Buffalo to make space on the Blue Jays roster for righthanded reliever Preston Guilmet, who Toronto picked up off of waivers from St. Louis on Saturday. Guilmet will join the team in Tampa.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said that all-star third baseman Josh Donaldson, who has been out with left calf tightness, won’t play today but that Tuesday and Wednesday were possibilities.
Trey Mancini and Jonathan Schoop each had homers for Baltimore (19-45).
Alex Cobb (2-8) struggled over 3 2/3 innings, giving up nine earned runs on 11 hits, striking out five. Pedro Araujo gave up four runs in his inning of relief, while Mike Wright Jr., and Darren O’Day combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings.