The Blue Jays took a 6-3 win over the Guardians in a game that had a little bit of everything: shaky pitching, a few defensive oddities, some timely hitting, and more than one moment where the out came only because someone made the play when it had to be made.
José Soriano’s line looked rough enough on its own - six hits and three walks in 4.2 innings - but the Guardians were still only down 5-1 when he exited. The Jays got a healthy dose of luck and some clean defense along the way, plus a few of those small but vital plays that keep an inning from getting away.
Toronto’s first run came in the fourth. Vlad walked, Jesús Sánchez grounded one straight at shortstop, and Vlad was moving so well that the Guardians settled for a 6-3 putout. Sean Keys followed with a single to drive him in.
The fifth was the big one, with four runs crossing. Ernie Clement and Brandon Valenzuela both walked, each after winning a challenge - and Brandon’s walk would have been a strikeout without it.
He later won another challenge in the ninth, turning what had been called a strikeout into a strikeout on review. With two aboard, Brett Bateman dropped down a bunt single that bounced high enough to beat out, and Nathan Lukes made it count with a double that brought home two.
Vlad then added a sacrifice fly, Sánchez singled in another run on a pop fly to center that Steven Kwan nearly hauled in, and Keys reached on yet another Guardians error before Smith walked. The inning finally ended with a Giménez strikeout and a Clement pop-out.
The Guardians did their damage against Mason Fluharty in the fifth. He entered with two on and two out and a lefty expected, but Cleveland pinch-hit right-hander David Fry.
Fluharty got to a 1-2 count and then walked him. Austin Hedges followed with a two-run single, and suddenly it was 5-3.
Fluharty did get the final out on a strikeout, but the damage had already been done.
There were a couple of sharp defensive plays mixed in, too. Vlad and Soriano were involved in two 3-1 putouts at first, and both times Soriano did a nice job getting over to the bag.
One of the hits charged to Soriano looked more like an error to the eye: a pop fly to center that Brett Bateman tracked down with a slide, only to have it kick off his glove. It didn’t come back to haunt Toronto, even with a double following, because Soriano answered with a groundout, a pair of pop-outs, and a strikeout.
Toronto left another run on the table in the eighth. Valenzuela walked with one out, Lukes doubled with two outs, and Valenzuela stopped at second for reasons that were explained after the game by John, who said he forgot the number of outs.
That’s exactly why the base coaches are there. Whether he lost the ball or simply lost track, he should have been thinking third base - and probably home.
The bullpen handled the rest. Spencer Miles got the last out of the sixth after Fluharty had recorded two pop-outs, then worked a quick seventh.
Tyler Rogers breezed through the eighth despite a hit batter. Louis Varland closed it out in the ninth with a groundout, single, strikeout, a Valenzuela challenge, a walk that brought the tying run to the plate, and then another strikeout.
That gave Varland save No. 32.
Miles picked up the win to move to 6-2, and Rogers earned hold No. 30.
Toronto added one more in the ninth. Smith walked, Giménez singled him to third and then stole second, and Clement followed with a single to bring Smith home for the 6-3 final.
The Jays finished with nine hits, but only one extra-base hit - Lukes’ double - and they drew six walks. Bateman had three hits, Lukes had two, Vlad went 0 for 3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly, Smith was 0 for 2 with three walks, and Valenzuela finished 0 for 3 with two walks.
Jays of the Day went to Bateman, Keys, Miles, Soriano and Rogers. The Other Award went to Giménez.
Toronto is now just half a game back of the Guardians. Next up is Kansas City, where the Jays open a series against the Royals tomorrow at 8:00 Eastern.
Jameson Taillon, listed at 6-2 with a 5.68 ERA, is expected to start or possibly work as the bulk guy. Daniel Lynch IV, 4-4 with a 3.06 ERA, is slated to go for the Royals.
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