GAME CENTRE
Precautions taken with Stroman, Giles during walk-off win
There is always a risk at this time of year as teams try to strike a balance between showcasing their best players and keeping them healthy with the trade deadline a month away.
So the Blue Jays’ front office must have held their collective breath in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 7-5 walk-off win over the Kansas City Royals when right-hander Marcus Stroman, one of the top trade targets in the majors, called head athletic trainer Nikki Huffman to the mound after throwing two pitches, both balls, to Royals leadoff hitter Whit Merrifield.
Stroman was in obvious discomfort as he warmed up for the frame with catcher Danny Jansen, who would later win the game for the Jays in the ninth with a two-run home run.
Stroman was diagnosed with a “left shoulder pectoral cramp.” He said it wasn’t something he has experienced before, but the tightness in his chest made continuing impossible. The 28-year-old said he expects to make his next start against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.
“Nothing I’m too worried about,” Stroman said. “I thought it would progressively get better as I went into the inning, but it just kind of stayed consistent and made it hard to do what I do in my delivery.”
The Jays exercised caution with another potential trade candidate, closer Ken Giles, who didn’t get the call in a save situation with the Jays up 5-4 in the ninth. Giles, only nine days removed from the injured list after a bout of right elbow inflammation, threw 17 pitches on Friday and the Jays decided he wasn’t available for back-toback games, said manager Charlie Montoyo.
Daniel Hudson blew the save after the Royals’ Billy Hamilton led off with a single and later scored on a wild pitch, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly.
Jansen made good for the Jays, though, with his first walk-off home run, sending a Scott Barlow fastball deep to left-centre.
Biggio bomb: Royals starter Homer Bailey walked Brandon Drury and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and surrendered a single to Eric Sogard to set up Cavan Biggio’s big moment in the fifth inning — a no-doubt grand slam deep to centre field for a 5-4 Blue Jays lead. It was the Jays’ fourth grand slam of the year, and Biggio became the 10th rookie in franchise history to hit one. Bailey, in his rookie year, pitched against Biggio’s hall of fame dad Craig in 2007. The elder Biggio couldn’t produce a hit. “It was pretty cool ... Homer’s been around the game for a long time and it’s for a good reason,” the Jays rookie said. “Great pitcher on the mound and I was able to put a good swing on it.”
Back on the board: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s solo home run in the third inning off Bailey was the rookie slugger’s eighth in the big leagues but first since June 5. It brought the Jays within one run after Stroman gave up two runs in the first inning, including an uncharacteristic throwing error that scored Merrifield. “I know it feels good,” Montoyo said of Guerrero’s blast. “I know he’s seen all his friends going deep … and they’re having fun. He wanted to hit one, too. I bet he feels a lot better now.”
Up next: It’s Aaron Sanchez (3-10, 5.89) for the Jays vs. Brad Keller (3-9, 4.32), Sunday at 1 p.m. The rest of MLB’s all-stars are also expected to be announced.