Article content
See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source
Advertisement 2
Article content
As a sold-out crowd descended on Rogers Centre in the first of a season-long 10-game homestand, no one should be sold on whether an important corner had been turned.
Article content
Article content
At the same time, the Blue Jays have been desperately searching for any signs of optimism.
And perhaps a sign of better things to come was provided Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Houston Astros.
Toronto hasn’t reached the .500 level since early in the season, which began with a three-game home sweep of the Athletics.
Following Monday night’s 4-2 victory, the Jays improved to 39-39.
Momentum has been fleeting this season, but the Jays are well positioned to build on this latest success.
By no means were they convincing in holding off the Astros, who were held to five hits while going 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and hitting into three double plays.
Blue Jays reliever Tyler Rogers worked around two hits and one walk in the eighth inning.
The night’s loudest cheers were reserved for Louis Varland when he was introduced to begin the ninth inning.
Your Midday Sun
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
The announced crowd of 42,273 grew a bit anxious when Varland gave up a leadoff walk.
Anxiety quickly turned into anticipation when Varland induced a double-play grounder.
The game ended on a called strike as Varland recorded his 16th save.
The following are three takeaways on a night when Jays starter Dylan Cease allowed one run on two hits in the first before pitching 4.2 innings of one-hit scoreless ball.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
1. Kudos to Kazuma
Fans have clearly warmed up to Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto.
When the Jays signed Okamoto this off-season, not much was known by most casual fans other than he packed a punch at the plate.
In the early stages of the season, he struck out more times than Okamoto would record hits.
Then came a power streak, along with a velvet glove at third base.
He went yard Monday, hitting his club-leading 17th home run on a solo blast.
It also came against one of the AL’s best pitchers in Hunter Brown, who hadn’t given up a homer since last September.
When Okamoto entered the batter’s box to leadoff the fifth inning, fans started chanting: “O-ka-mo-to!”
Advertisement 4
Article content
He struck out swinging, but it did little to suppress the crowd’s appreciation for Okamoto.
The Jays battled Brown, who was forced to throw 85 pitches in his three-inning outing.
Okamoto’s double was instrumental in the Jays retaking the lead in the seventh.
2. Trading places
Joey Loperfido was back in Toronto for the first time since his trade back to the Astros that netted Toronto corner outfielder Jesus Sanchez.
Loperfido led off the second inning and grounded out.
Loperfido, who received a smattering of applause Monday, was acquired two years ago at the trade deadline when the Jays parted ways with Yimi Garcia, who was re-acquired last off-season and has yet to pitch this season, along with Nate Pearson, Danny Jansen, Justin Turner, Yusei Kikuchi, Trevor Richards, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Kevin Kiermaier.
Only Kiner-Falefa was not on an expiring deal, but he was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh last season and later played a role in the World Series loss when he failed to score from third on a routine ground ball to second base.
Advertisement 5
Article content
But we digress.
Will Wagner and Jake Bloss were also in the package from Houston.
The Jays traded Wagner earlier this calendar year to San Diego for Brandon Valenzuela.
Of all the players acquired by the club, the deal for Valenzuela may prove to be the best.
Two years ago, the Jays were sellers because they were playing out the string of a lost season.
This year’s trade deadline is Aug. 3 when it’s expected the Jays will be buyers.
Yohendrick Pinango was acquired two years ago at the trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs.
He has shown to be an above-average hitter, but a below-average outfielder.
Monday, Pinango was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo once Luis Urias was selected to the major-league roster.
The infielder was acquired on the weekend from Arizona for cash consideration.
Garcia, meanwhile, continues to recover from elbow surgery, but his progression has hit an impasse after feeling soreness in his biceps area.
3. Umpire strikes out
Baseball fans from a different era are sure to recall flamboyant umpire Ron Luciano, who published a memoir entitled “The Umpire Strikes Back.”
Advertisement 6
Article content
Monday’s home plate umpire, Bill Miller, struck out swinging, metaphorically speaking, in the game’s first at-bats when three of his calls were overturned.
The oddity seemed to reflect the odd beginning for Cease.
It began when the right-hander gave up a leadoff single.
Two walks would play out, two stolen bases by Jeremy Pena recorded, two hits yielded by Cease and yet only one run would cross home plate as the inning ended on a double play.
Cease needed 26 pitches to get out of the first, which had the makings of something more damaging than the one run ultimately surrendered.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Up Next
Take note of the 4:07 p.m. scheduled start time, a change the Jays made, rightfully so, early last month to accommodate a 7 p.m. World Cup game featuring Croatia and Panama at Toronto Stadium; of greater note is the season debut of RHP Shane Bieber, whose start was pushed back one day because inclement weather caused Sunday’s series finale in Chicago against the Cubs to be postponed.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
Article content