Richards leads manner as Blue Jays hit midway mark with win over Giants

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The Blue Jays reached the season’s midway level on Wednesday night time and to say the glass is half-full could be a stretch.

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Half-empty could be extra practical given the expectations surrounding this group and the various moments of underachievement that ensued.

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However the best way Trevor Richards pitched as ‘opener’ in a bullpen recreation, spearheading the Blue Jays to their 6-1 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants, and that Toronto’s bats went ballistic out of the gate, one is likely to be tempted to conclude all is correct with this unit.

And although it was just one night time — and the win did enhance the Jays’ file to 44-37 because the second half formally begins Thursday night time within the sequence rubber match — the Jays are nonetheless strolling a advantageous line.

Their incapability to provide hits with runners in scoring place has been well-documented. There have been a number of examples of the group’s lack of clutch hitting, together with the sequence opener towards San Francisco when the house aspect struck out at will.

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However on Wednesday, Toronto didn’t waste any time in atoning for its futility by scoring 5 runs in its first at-bats.

The re-emerging George Springer opened the inning with a double, and the red-hot Bo Bichette introduced him dwelling.

For Bichette — the Jays’ greatest participant this season — he prolonged his hit streak 13 video games.
Brandon Belt then plated Bichette with a double because the Jays made it 2-0.

Two outs later, Belt got here dwelling on a double to proper by Daulton Varsho, who then scored the fourth run of the inning on one more two-bagger, this one by Whit Merrifield.

Danny Jansen then capped the first-inning frenzy by singling dwelling Whitfield.

4 doubles in a single inning, however extra importantly 5 runs scored with a runner in scoring place.

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Shut out in Miami final week, unable to attain a single run towards the Giants on Tuesday night time, the five-run first inning was lengthy overdue and much-needed.

THREE-PEAT

Kudos to Richards for stepping up when the Blue Jays desperately wanted an arm to function the de facto fifth starter.

Mainly a two-pitch pitcher, Richards blended up his fastball and elite changeup in his third ‘opener’ begin of the season, going three shutout innings.

Richards allowed solely a leadoff single to Lamont Wade Jr., and a stroll — each within the first inning. He required 21 pitches to retire the Giants within the first, 12 within the second and simply seven within the third earlier than being changed by Bowden Francis, who went 4 innings for the win.

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EXTRA BASES

Everybody had an inkling one thing was askew with Kevin Kiermaier when the Jays used Ernie Clement as a pinch-runner late in Tuesday’s recreation. Kiermaier has battled again points prior to now and, for the second recreation in a row, he was not in Toronto’s beginning lineup. The month of June has not been sort to Kiermaier, who has hit simply .154 in 52 at-bats … Alejandro Kirk is poised to return to the lineup as early as Thursday’s rubber match. Precisely one 12 months in the past, the catcher/DH was on the point of play in his first all-star recreation. However a lot has modified for Kirk, who has struggled this season when one dives deep into the myriad of baseball’s metrics. For now, he needs to be able to go following a stint on the 10-day injured listing after struggling a laceration to his left hand that required stitches … Chris Bassitt is scheduled to start out Thursday’s recreation for the Jays.

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