Osuna feels fine closing out Jays win
Back on the mound, Roberto Osuna settled into his comfort zone.
The Toronto closer struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning a day after saying he was dealing with anxiety issues, and the Blue Jays avoided a sweep by beating the Kansas City Royals, 8-2, in American League baseball action Sunday.
“I felt really good and I felt better than yesterday and the day before,” Osuna said through a translator. “I’m just ready to work on that and get over it.”
Jose Bautista homered and drove in a season-high four runs and Francisco Liriano earned his 100th career victory.
Osuna didn’t pitch in a save situation on Friday night, and the Blue Jays’ bullpen let a game get away. On Saturday, the 22-year-old reliever said he was out of sorts mentally and feeling lost.
Osuna has received an outpouring of support on social media.
“I didn’t read everything, but I hear about it,” he said. “I really appreciate the support of the people, but I have other stuff to think about right now. I just thank the fans for that, but I’m just trying to work on that by myself. I’m just trying to do my best when I go out there and I’m trying to follow directions, whatever the doctors and trainers here tell me to do. I just follow directions and hopefully it’s going to get better.”
“If there comes a time or day he doesn’t feel he could, he would let us know,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “But that’s personal stuff. You guys need to stay out of that.”
Bautista hit a two-run, 450-foot homer in the fifth that tied it. He walked with the bases loaded in a five-run sixth and singled home Kevin Pillar, who had three hits, in the seventh. Bautista did a little celebration dance with Osuna after the final out.
“Hopefully he can continue to come out there when we need him,” Bautista said. “It’s encouraging to see him just go out and pitch well.”