Blue Jays blown out in Baltimore, settle for series split

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All eyes were on the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards, more than a few curious onlookers hoping to glean how they would react in the stunning aftermath of an epic meltdown.

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Beleaguered reliever Jeff Hoffman and manager John Schneider took the heat for Saturday’s 6-5 walk-off loss, the inevitable casualties when decisions are questioned, when a four-run lead in the ninth gets obliterated.

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If anything, big-leaguers and even managers need to be thick-skinned, knowing another game awaits, demanding the flush-and-move-on approach.

Sunday also marked the end of a gruelling stretch, albeit a relative term, for the Jays that saw them play 17 games in 17 days.

The stretch came to an abrupt end on an afternoon the Jays looked and played like a club still reeling from the previous day’s disaster.

Five series played in 17 days, three series won and two series split, including Toronto’s stay in Baltimore where the O’s took the final two games as Toronto ended its extended play by going a combined 10-7.

Following three straight one-run games, Sunday turned into a 9-5 blowout loss for the Jays, the most runs surrendered by Toronto since a 14-2 beatdown by the Dodgers in early April.

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The following are three takeaways on a bizarre day at the ballpark that featured Jays’ starting right fielder Jesus Sanchez forced to leave the game in the sixth inning, the apparent victim of a ball thrown in his direction from the stands. When accompanied off the field, Sanchez was holding the area around his right wrist. A grainy video did seem to reveal a baseball originating from the stands after Sanchez pointed to a fan as if the big leaguer wanted to play catch with a reported kid. Either way, it was a strange and unfortunate way to end a pretty entertaining series; initial reports indicated the fan did not throw at Sanchez on purpose.

1. Air Miles

The rules surrounding MLB’s Rule 5 Draft clearly stipulate any team selecting a player is required to keep such player on the active roster for the balance of the season.

Rules, as they say, are meant to be bent, at times even broken if they serve some cause.

The way Spencer Miles has performed since the Jays selected the right-hander from the San Francisco Giants in the Rule 5 Draft, there’s no reason not to believe in Miles.

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He started Sunday’s series finale in what appeared as a clear pitching mismatch with the Orioles countering with righty Kyle Bradish.

A mismatch on the mound, a mismatch all across the diamond.

Miles issued three walks during his outing, but the fatal blow came on a three-run homer he yielded.

While Miles has punched above his weight as a Blue Jay, he was knocked to the canvas on a day the Jays’ pitching options were severely diminished, which only underscores Saturday’s implosion.

Adam Macko, Friday night’s opener, started the fourth inning.

2. Start of something?

Under no circumstance can the Jays properly function in the absence of legitimate starters.

Bullpen days aren’t ideal, which goes without saying, and it’s a minor miracle the Jays haven’t dropped in the standings.

Of the three primary starters on the injured list, Dylan Cease will be back sooner for the simple reason he’s with the big-league club.

It’s expected an update on Cease’s injured hamstring will be provided Tuesday.

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Fellow starters in Max Scherzer, who pitched in Buffalo Sunday, and Shane Bieber, who pitched in Dunedin, loom on the horizon.

No team can have too many arms, but in the case of the Jays a full starting rotation will allow the likes of a Miles to be used more efficiently.

Hayden Juenger made his big-league debut Sunday when he started the sixth inning in a 6-0 game, the essence of low leverage.

The righty walked the first batter he faced and then gave up his first hit to the very next batter.

It only got worse as the Jays desperately needed innings.

3. Sizing up the East

The Jays have now played all four of their divisional foes, including two series against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, who swept Toronto at the Trop and also earned a series win at Rogers Centre.

Following Sunday’s laugher, the Jays have gone 7-10 against their divisional rivals.

Baltimore will be in Toronto next weekend for a three-game series as the Jays begin an East-heavy stretch that will see them play the Yankees during a nine-game homestand before heading to Beantown for a three-game set against the BoSox.

The Jays won the East last season by earning the tiebreaker over New York, built on their home dominance over the Yankees, including a franchise-first sweep of a four-game series.

Up Next

For the first time since May 14, the Jays have an off day; when play resumes Tuesday, the Jays will begin a three-game series in Atlanta on Lou Gehrig Day. The Braves became the first team in baseball to reach the 40-win total this past weekend as Ronald Acuna continued his assault at the plate. Kevin Gausman is scheduled to start for the Jays in the series opener.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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