The baseball stars keep aligning for the Blue Jays.
Feel-good Sunday had plenty of lustre attached to it, a day that began with Markham’s own Jordan Romano being named to the mid-summer classic as a replacement pitcher.
Fittingly, Romano went three up and three down to record his league-leading 20th save as the Blue Jays eked out a 4-2 win over an undermanned but surprisingly competitive Kansas City Royals team at the Rogers Centre.
It was Toronto’s 50th win of the season and third in a row as it heads into the four-day all-star break still in possession of an AL wild-card berth.
In keeping with the all-star theme on Sunday, Alejandro Kirk lifted his 11th homer of the season, a two-run blast in the eighth inning that gave the Jays their win. Scoring ahead of him was Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who along with Kirk, Romano, Santiago Espinal and Alek Manoah, will represent the Jays in L.A. on Tuesday night.
To say the Jays, at 50-43, are flying high would be to state the obvious.
Interim manager John Schneider is feeling more at ease in the big chair following the dismissal of Charlie Montoyo and his personality is beginning to rub off on the players, many of whom he has known during their progression up the organizational ladder.
One of those players is Romano, a one-time starter who become the seventh pitcher in franchise history to save at least 20 games before the all-star break.
For the second day in a row, a Blue Jays player found out about his addition to the all-star game in a unique fashion.
On Saturday, it involved Espinal heading off to Los Angeles. On Sunday, it was Romano’s turn to be told.
Just before 11 a.m., the Jays called a team meeting.
In walked his good buddy Tim Mayza — who earned the win Sunday — holding an all-star equipment bag that he presented to the Jays closer.
“It was a cool moment,’’ said Romano, well-deserving of the nod.
Once the all-star news began to sink in, Romano reached out to his parents and fiancée.
“Awesome,’’ said Schneider when asked about Romano’s all-star inclusion. “It’s always cool for anybody, an individual accomplishment like that. Having known Jordan for as long as I have, it was pretty cool.”
In the minors, Schneider saw the potential within Romano to emerge as a bullpen weapon.
“It’s just a credit to him,’’ he said. “And the development he has done since he’s been here.”
The all-star break also comes at a good time as the Jays can finally exhale following a hectic week that saw Montoyo relieved of his duties.
“We all know we can get better in every aspect,’’ said Schneider.
But achieving 50 wins at the break is nothing to sneeze at.
Prior to Montoyo’s dismissal, the Jays had lost nine of 10 and returned home following a sweep at the hands of Seattle.
Perspective often gets lost amid the euphoria of all-star recognition, but the fact remains the Jays have plenty of work before they can be viewed as serious contenders.
“Fifty is a good number,’’ added Schneider. “When you look at the expectations of this ball club, you can say: ‘OK, we’re getting to where we need to go a little bit.’”
With the score deadlocked at 2-2 from the third inning on, Kirk, who served as the Jays DH while Danny Jansen worked behind the plate, turned on a 3-2 pitch to produce the decisive blow.
Jansen did his part defensively, throwing out a runner at second and picking off another at first.
Jose Berrios started for the Jays and tossed 6.1 innings of two-run ball, giving up seven hits, including a home run to rookie Nick Pratto, walking one, while striking out seven.
It was Berrios’ third consecutive quality start and his 10th of the season.
“Looking for him to continue that roll,’’ said Schneider of the right-hander.
BY GEORGE, HE’S OK
Schneider sat centre fielder George Springer, a scheduled off day, according to the skipper.
Springer declined his all-star invitation, preferring to use the break to rest an ailing elbow.
Schneider had Espinal leading off Sunday, while Bradley Zimmer started in centre.
“Just a scheduled day off (for Springer), trying to take advantage of the all-star break and the extra day,’’ said Schneider.
“The rest will be good for him. Over the course of the last two weeks or so, he’s been a little unlucky. At this point in the season, rest may be the best thing for him.
“We’re looking for him to be George going forward in the second half.”
CAPTAIN KIRK
Kirk’s long ball was his second-career home run in the eighth inning or later.
He enters the all-star break with a .315 batting average.
“You never know what people are going to do,’’ said Schneider when discussing Kirk and his exploits. “He’s fun to pencil in there. An unbelievable first half and very deserving of an all-star selection. He’s been as steady as they come.”
BY THE NUMBERS
Bo Bichette drove in his 50th run with a sacrifice fly in the third inning to tie the game 2-2. Last year, he became the first shortstop in franchise history to reach the 50-RBI total at the all-star break with 57. Under Schneider, Bichette has been batting cleanup … Matt Chapman produced his 13th multi-hit game of the season, while Vlad Jr. notched his 23rd …The Jays, who trailed 2-0, earned their 20th comeback win of the season … Since 2018, Toronto has gone 20-8 against the Royals, winning 12 of 14 games at the Rogers Centre.
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