Blue Jays' bats provide much-needed stress-free victory over Reds

CINCINNATI – Regardless of how the stretch run plays out for the Blue Jays, it doesn't figure to be particularly relaxing. The Mariners, the team they're chasing in the wild card standings, continue to win. And because of the way this edition of the Blue Jays is constructed, they tend to play a lot of close games.

In that context, it’s rare the Blue Jays get a chance to breathe. 

Now granted, no game can be described as easy when it’s played in 33 degree heat, and the early exit of their first baseman creates a question as the Blue Jays head to Baltimore, but still, this 10-3 win in front of 31,529 at Great American Ballpark was more relaxing than most.

The Blue Jays jumped on Hunter Greene early, connecting for five rapid-fire home runs that chased the flame-throwing Reds starter from the game before he could complete four innings. Not only did the outburst tie a season high in home runs for the Blue Jays, it matched a franchise record for most homers allowed by any pitcher in Reds history.

While another Mariners win means the Blue Jays remain 0.5 games behind Seattle in the wild card race, Sunday was a step forward.

"Take care of our own business," said Brandon Belt, who hit two home runs. "We're not worried about what other teams are doing right now. We're going out there and trying to win every single game, every single inning, and we'll check to check the box at the end of the year and see where we are. Right now it's just being worried about playing our (best) baseball."

All told, the Blue Jays jumped Greene for nine runs on 10 hits, including home runs from Kevin Kiermaier, Bo Bichette, George Springer and Brandon Belt (2). It marked the third time this season, the Blue Jays have connected for five long balls and – surprise, surprise – they’ve won all three times.

"Up and down (the lineup), it was really, really good at bats," said manager John Schneider. "Put pressure on (Greene) from the start."

There’s obviously no bad way to hit five home runs, but Sunday’s power surge was especially welcome because Bichette (knee), Springer (ankle) and Kiermaier (elbow laceration) had all been battling injuries as recently as a few days ago. Also involved in the offence was Danny Jansen (hand), who doubled his first time up after a week on the sidelines and added an RBI single in the ninth.

"Getting all of our guys back in the lineup is pretty huge for us," said Belt. "Getting the length back in the lineup is real promising and we like where we're at now."

Yet the injury concerns haven’t completely disappeared for the Blue Jays as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. experienced left middle finger discomfort during his fourth-inning plate appearance and left the game shortly afterwards, with Cavan Biggio taking over at first base. Afterwards, Schneider described Guerrero Jr. as day-to-day and said the team expects he’ll be fine.

But while the offence was undoubtedly the driving force behind this win, the Blue Jays still benefitted from some stellar pitching on a day their MLB-best 3.67 ERA dropped a little lower. Starter Hyun Jin Ryu provided five innings of four-hit baseball, allowing two unearned runs while striking out seven in one of his better outings since returning from Tommy John surgery. 

"The guy knows how to pitch," said Belt. "It doesn't it doesn't really matter what kind of stuff he has when he goes up there, he knows what to do with it. And he works quick. It's always fun to play behind somebody who works as quick as that and he’s just a pitcher through and through.”

All afternoon, the Reds’ young lineup looked off-balance. Afterwards, the 36-year-old Ryu said he’d grade his curveball 100 out of 100 even if his fastball velocity was a more modest 87.4 m.p.h., on average.

"I really thought they were going to be very aggressive, so I just tried to get ahead," Ryu said via interpreter.

"He could take advantage of some of their aggressiveness," Schnieder added. "Really, really good outing for him."

By the late innings, the score was lopsided enough for the Blue Jays to comfortably rest their highest leverage relievers – a group that would otherwise have been available for extensive work but now gets a two-day break. Left-handed Genesis Cabrera covered the sixth inning for the Blue Jays followed by Bowden Francis, who handled the final three frames en route to his first career save while allowing only a solo home run to Tyler Stephenson.

This win was particularly big as a series against the Orioles looms large next week and wins will be tough to come by against the American League’s best team. Now, the Blue Jays fly to Baltimore where they’ll rest Monday before playing three against the team that entered play Sunday 76-47.

Hitting five home runs per game might not be a sustainable strategy, but it doesn’t have to be. For at least one stifling afternoon in Cincinnati, the Blue Jays’ bats created a path to a much-needed series win and a relatively stress-free afternoon at the ballpark.