Walks and stolen bases shorten day for Manoah

Walks come back to bite and stolen bases are crushing. Both took a chunk out of Alek Manoah’s backside as the putative Blue Jays ace extended his career-long losing streak to five games.

In the bottom half of the first inning, after the Jays had taken an early 1-0 lead, Wander Franco tripled and scored on a Randy Arozarena single through the hole at shortstop. Arozarena stole second and Brandon Lowe made it to first on a wild pitch, with Arozarena subsequently scoring on a force out.

In the second, Luke Raley walked to lead off, stole second and made it home loping on Josh Lowe’s double as Manoah loaded the bases on eight straight pitches out of the zone before getting out of that jam.

Then, in the third, it was back-toback walks, Raley and Taylor Walls stealing second and third respectively, with a throwing error in the mix by Alejandro Kirk — restored as Manoah’s catcher following a one-game switch-up on the weekend with Danny Jansen catching — and Raley made it 5-1 on a groundout by Manuel Margot.

With Adam Cimber in relief in the seventh, Franco stole second, stole third, and scored on an Arozarena single up the middle.

Toronto made it somewhat interesting in the ninth off different relievers with a pair of runs, first Kirk and then Kevin Kiermaier, who managed to avoid the double-play hat-trick (second and seventh innings) with a single down the left field line, scoring on a sac fly by pinch-hitter Ernie Clement.

Changes throughout lineup

Manager John Schneider altered his lineup significantly, resting George Springer (though he’d pinch-hit and walk in the ninth), with Bo Bichette — 1-for-4 — at the top of the order, Daulton Varsho batting second, Nathan Lukes getting a start in right field, hitting sixth, and Cavan Biggio in the ninehole.

“With the way Bo is swinging it, you take him as many times as you can, no matter what,” said Schneider. “I think Varsho is making some good strides.”

Varsho drew a walk and scored in the first inning.

Jansen, who was pulled from Wednesday’s game with left groin tenderness when he ran to first on a groundout, underwent an MRI on Thursday morning. No outcome revealed yet to the media.

Nothing to see here?

It was noted on the TV broadcast that Manoah seemed to irritably shrug off a remark made to him by pitching coach Pete Walker in the dugout after the second inning before disappearing briefly down the tunnel. Asked about the incident later, Schneider said: “I got no comment on that.” Adding: “There was nothing bad.”