TORONTO – After Bradley Zimmer made a spectacular catch for diving in the central field for the Blue Jays, George Springer joked with manager Charlie Montoyo in the Toronto dugout that he would become a full-time striker.
Springer certainly thrived in DH on Saturday, scoring two solo home runs while the Blue Jays held Houston Astros 2-1.
“If he wants me to do this day, I’ll do it,” Springer said. “I will not complain. I do not care. It doesn’t bother me. I’m here for us.
“If that means I’m DH, playing right, playing center, or whatever, I’ll do it.”
Montoyo said Springer’s regular position as central defender of Toronto is safe, but he appreciates the star’s desire to play where he needs to.
“I’m glad he doesn’t mind DHing, because for some boys it’s hard, it’s not easy to do because the boys are used to playing every day,” said Montoyo. “It’s convenient for him to do it, though, so it’s great.”
Jose Berios (2-0) scored five for 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run with seven hits and two walks. Adam Simber, Tim Maisa and Jordan Romano threw 3 1/3 innings without a score for Toronto (14-8).
Romano, of Markham, Ont., Won his 10th save of the season.
“I feel more in rhythm, stronger and more confident with my playgrounds,” said Berios. “Today I threw a better speed, a break in the field, so I want to continue to build on that.”
Jordan Alvarez’s home run kept Astros (11-10) in the game. Luis Garcia (1-1) conceded two runs with five hits and a walk, scoring five. Seth Martinez and Ryan Stanek have left the bullpen for Houston.
Springer hit his fifth Homer of the season in the first Blue Jace bat of the match. It was Homer’s 46th goal in Springer’s nine-year career, tied with Jimmy Rollins for the sixth time in the history of Major League Baseball. Former Blue Jace outfielder Ricky Henderson is the all-time leader in the 81st home run.
“Every time you can get the first person based on inning, it’s huge and allows the boys to hit the way they want to hit,” Springer said. “You always like to lead 1-0 or whatever, but I just think that every time you can score or get to first base to start inning is huge.”
Alvarez scored this lead in the fourth. Gaining a lead in the inning, he made 2-1 pitches from Berios to the deadlock for his sixth of the season.
Springer struck again in the third inning, starting 2-0 on the left center field with one out to give Toronto a 2-0 lead.
The home record empire Nic Lentz called on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the final blow of the fifth inning, as the big player on the first base of Toronto threw his bat in anger. Montoyo immediately jumped out of the dugout to challenge the call and was thrown out of the game for his efforts.
“(I) was distracting from my MVP,” Montoyo said. “I’d rather watch the game from the office than Vlad watch the game from the office.”
Romano got lead striker Chas McCormick to oppose Bo Bichette to start the ninth inning. Then the approach of Toronto defeated Nico Goodrum and with the audience of 40,732 people in Rogers Center caused a flight of Alex Bregman.
LIVE BP – Blue Jays left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (forearm) did three innings of a live training session on Saturday morning, facing Theoscar Hernandez (slanted), among others, while being caught by Danny Jansen (slanted). Montoyo said all three looked good in the session. He added that Rue and Hernandez may need rehabilitation with a triple A Buffalo before returning to the Blue Jays.
SAUCED – Leftist pitcher Taylor Sosedo has been placed on the 10-day Blue Jace injury list ahead of Saturday’s game. He will undergo an MRI after being pulled out of Friday’s 11-7 loss to Houston with discomfort in his right thigh. Wright Bowden Francis was withdrawn from Buffalo to replace Sosedo, a day after he was sent to the club with a triple A. Montoyo joked that Francis should turn to Niagara Falls, but the pitcher confirmed that he had arrived in Buffalo before had to return to Toronto.
LOOKING AHEAD – Kevin Gaussman (1-1) starts for the Blue Jays on Sunday morning against Houston. Framber Valdes (1-1) will take the mound for Astros.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 30, 2022.
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