CHICAGO – A week that began with real promise veered further into disappointment Friday at Chicago’s Rate Field.
Unable to get much offence going against the White Sox, the Blue Jays dropped their series opener Friday, losing 5-4 in 10 innings. A late home run by Andres Gimenez made things close, but the White Sox rallied in the 10th to win their home opener in front of 33,171.
Worse still for the Blue Jays, Alejandro Kirk’s status is uncertain after taking a foul ball off his catching hand in the 10th inning. Tyler Heineman replaced him midway through the frame, making a fielding error that helped the White Sox tie and eventually win the game.
The Blue Jays will likely send Kirk for tests that will determine the next steps.
The loss comes after a series loss to the Rockies and gives the Blue Jays a 4-3 record on the season. With 155 games remaining in the regular season, there’s all kinds of time left for the Blue Jays to recover. They have time, and they have talent.
At the same time, it’s rare to get a week like this with series against two of the weakest teams in baseball, and the Blue Jays have so far failed to take advantage of the opportunity. So far, they’re 1-3 against the Rockies and White Sox, who lost a combined 221 games last year.
It’s frustrating, especially when it comes to the offence, which managed just four runs on seven hits Friday. Kazuma Okamoto struck out four times, and Jesus Sanchez whiffed three times while no Blue Jays hitter collected more than one hit.
In the top of the 10th, the Blue Jays seemed poised to pull off a comeback win as an errant throw by Miguel Vargas pulled newcomer Munetaka Murakami just far enough off first base for George Springer to reach and Davis Schneider to score.
Earlier in the afternoon, with Ernie Clement on first and the Blue Jays trailing 3-1 in the eighth, Andres Gimenez pulled a home run down the right field line to tie the game. The shortstop’s second home run of the season extended the game just long enough to buy some more time against the White Sox, now 2-5.
Meanwhile, Dylan Cease’s spotty command kept him from completing five innings – far from ideal considering the Blue Jays may be relying on a bullpen game Saturday.
The former White Sox starter struck out six while allowing just three runs, but he fell behind hitters too often, walking three and allowing five hits. While Cease touched 100 m.p.h. and generated 16 swinging strikes, his command wasn’t as sharp as it was in his impressive Blue Jays debut last weekend.
