The Toronto Blue Jays are still looking to find some semblance of stability. After making it all the way to the World Series last season, the Jays have been struggling this year. A 32-35 record as we near the halfway point of the season isn’t going to cut it. Toronto has been trying anything and everything to get its groove back this year.
Their latest attempt to change things up involves their star hitter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Blue Jays first baseman has been the 3rd hitter in their lineup for nearly the entire season. His power makes him an ideal candidate to support the Jays’ leadoff hitters. With the team struggling, though, manager John Schneider decided to make Guerrero the leadoff man against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Blue Jays’ attempt to change things up worked in the game, as they won 3-2 against the Phillies. Schneider said that moving Guerrero to the 1-hole was just to “shake things up a bit for him”, as the hitter expressed his willingness to hit wherever in the lineup.
“We go as Vlad goes, right?” Schneider said, per Ben Nicholson-Smith. “And no one feels that more than him.”
Guerrero had a respectable outing as the leadoff man for the Blue Jays. He recorded one hit in four at-bats. With George Springer out for this game, Jesus Sanchez stepped up big time for Toronto. Sanchez had three hits, including a solo home run in the sixth inning that tied the game 1-1.
Things looked troublesome for the Blue Jays when the Phillies took a one-run lead at the top of the ninth inning. However, in an uncharacteristic turn of events, Phillies closer Jhoan Duran had a messy ninth inning. A wild pitch allowed Toronto to tie the game. A few plays later, the Jays walked it off after a Brandon Valenzuela base hit. They improve to 33-35 on the season.
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