Copeland surprises in Jays spot start
Scott Copeland’s reward for an excellent, seven-inning performance in his major league starting debut for the Jays was swift and business-like: He was returned to triple-A Buffalo, with thanks for a nice job.
Some other time, the right-hander’s six-hit, one-run outing might have earned another start. But these Jays are on an eight-game win streak, capped by a 7-2 trouncing of Miami on Wednesday afternoon that featured yet another amazing feat by the offence.
There just isn’t any room, not even for a pitcher who contributed as fine a performance as Copeland did to give Aaron Sanchez some extra rest.
Fresh off a walk off homer by Edwin Encarnacion the night before, they struck for back-to-back home runs — twice. They’d only done it once all season (May 14). Justin Smoak and Russell Martin hit consecutive homers in the fourth inning, while Jose Reyes and Josh Donaldson went deep in the seventh.
Encarnacion’s wonky left shoulder is a concern once again, however. The slugging first baseman was pulled in the eighth inning after a return of the pain that forced him to miss two games over the weekend.
“I don’t want it to get worse, so I took it easy and we were winning the game so it was better to rest,” Encarnacion said. “I feel good. I just want to make sure I don’t go back (to missing games). I will take tomorrow off and come back again.”
The Jays’ magical streak is drawing attention, attracting an announced crowd of 44,101on hand for the afternoon start.
Most probably didn’t know who Copeland was, part of the life of a journeyman minor leaguer trying to crack the big time.
Copeland was tidy and effective, throwing 70 per cent of his 92 pitches for strikes and recording 12 groundouts. His sinker worked as designed, and only once did he allow more than one baserunner.
“In my senior year (at Southern Mississippi), I figured the sinker out and it’s been with me ever since,” Copeland said.
Still, with the club so hot, there’s just no room for Copeland to stay longer. He has been recalled three times since early May, once as the 26th man on the roster for a doubleheader in Washington.
He went one10-day stretch without pitching. Then comes word that he’s being pressed into duty against the Marlins to replace Aaron Sanchez.
Copeland, a Baltimore draft pick in 2010 and free-agent signing by the Jays in 2012, barely had time to savour his first big league win. He won’t even make an extra day’s major league pay on the off-day Thursday, when the Jays will host their annual charity golf classic.
After that, the Jays fly to Boston for a key divisional series with the Red Sox, who are playing much better baseball of late, as are the Yankees.
Copeland, who has a 1.97 earned run average in seven starts for Buffalo, will be back up when the need arises. He’s earned that.