Blue Jays' offence unable to capitalize on vintage Manoah performance

TORONTO — For one afternoon, at least, it was as though all the ups and downs of the last year or so just never happened for Alek Manoah.

Pitching at home for the first time since last July 29, the right-hander looked as comfortable on the mound Sunday as he has in months — maybe a full year. His delivery was athletic, driving towards home plate as he threw strike after strike. His slider was moving and his change-up — an offering he used just once in his season debut last weekend — was a legitimate out-pitch, too.

And as a scoreless game played out in front of 32,200 fans with the dome open at Rogers Centre, Manoah seemed to be enjoying the moment. Wearing knee-high pink socks on Mothers’ Day, he was demonstrative on the mound, pointing at umpires after check swings and yelling when he recorded big strikeouts.

“You could see his emotion coming on and off the mound a little,” said manager John Schneider. “That’s what we’re used to seeing from him … (And) his stuff is there. Today he used it in the zone and got on a good roll.”

It was vintage Alek Manoah – exactly what the Blue Jays have been missing for the better part of a year. Only after waiting so long for a performance just like this, they couldn’t take advantage of it once they got it, as Ernie Clement’s second error of the game extended the seventh inning just long enough for Blue Jays nemesis Carlos Santana to hit a three-run home run that set in motion a 5-1 Twins win.

Afterwards, Manoah lamented the result but said he was encouraged by his ability to attack the strike zone consistently. 

"I felt great," he said. "I was able to mix in all my pitches and was attacking really well except for the one walk. I feel like everything was working."

And while the Blue Jays’ hitters erupted for a season-high 10 runs on Saturday, they were all too quiet at the plate Sunday as Bailey Ober pitched into the seventh with 10 strikeouts before handing the ball over to an effective Minnesota bullpen. On a day the Blue Jays recorded just two hits, their lone run came via a Danny Jansen pinch hit sacrifice fly in the seventh.

As a result, the Blue Jays lose the series to the Twins and fall to 18-22 on the season before heading to Baltimore where a matchup against Corbin Burnes and the Orioles awaits Monday. Put it down as a missed opportunity for a last-place team that needs to create some of its own luck.

As for Manoah, though, this was a massive step forward. With a delivery that looks far better than it did in 2023, he threw 55 of his 78 pitches for strikes, including 16 first-pitch strikes to 26 total hitters. That’s also a significant step forward compared to his season debut against the Nationals last weekend, when he threw 11 first-pitch strikes to 24 total hitters.

"He was attacking, getting early outs, everything," Schneider said. "He had every pitch working, which is really encouraging."

With his pitching motion in sync, Manoah consistently worked ahead of a Twins lineup that featured four left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters. One major reason for his success Sunday was a change-up he threw 19 times, compared to just once against Washington.

While planning for the start against the Twins, he liked the idea of throwing it often, knowing it might surprise them when they were expecting sliders.

“We spoke about it,” he said. “I mean it’s a tough league with a lot of really good offences … it’s definitely a pitch we’re going to want to mix in more.”

Manoah credited catcher Alejandro Kirk for calling a good game behind the plate and said support from his teammates has helped him while he’s worked his way back from the shoulder soreness that delayed the start of his season.

“I know there’s a lot of outside noise, but I work my tail off every day and I have great support from every guy in that clubhouse,” he said. “I know they believe in me, so it’s just about going out there and doing it.”

All told, Manoah allowed just three unearned runs on four hits in seven innings. He walked only one while striking out six, and while one start doesn’t erase questions about a pitcher whose last year-plus has included its share of challenges, this was a significant step forward.

Later, Erik Swanson would surrender two add-on runs, continuing what’s been an extremely poor start to the season for the right-handed reliever. Though Swanson was considered a high-leverage setup arm when the season started, his ERA sits at 14.04 after Sunday, and it’s clear he cannot be relied upon with the game on the line right now.

"It's been a tough start for him for sure," Schneider said. "He's got to get ahead of hitters first and foremost."

From here, the Blue Jays face an even bigger test as they’ll play the 26-12 Orioles for the first time in 2024. The results to date would say a large gulf exists between those two teams, but if the Blue Jays really are more talented than their record suggests, now would be a good time to prove it.