CLEVELAND – George Springer is known for always being calm and composed but in the seventh inning of Thursday’s game, he became heated in a way that was extremely rare for him on the field.
With the tying run on second base, Springer was at the plate. The hero in Wednesday night’s game, he’s been the Blue Jays’ hottest hitter this week and this looked like a prime opportunity for him to alter the course of the game.
With the count 2-2, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Trevor Stephan delivered his seventh pitch of the at-bat, a fastball low in the zone. Home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak called strike three and an upset Springer voiced his frustration.
As he was walking back to the dugout, Rehak tossed the Blue Jays right-fielder. That brought out Blue Jays manager John Schneider from the dugout and he was quickly ejected, as well. An emotional Springer had to be restrained by Schneider and after about 60 seconds of arguing, both player and manager headed back to the dugout fuming.
That inning proved pivotal in the Blue Jays’ 4-3 loss to the Guardians at Progressive Field.
Schneider said he was upset at the call, but more so how Rehak tossed Springer.
“You're taking one of our best players, one of the best players in baseball, out of the game,” Schneider said. “And I didn't think anything that George said or did warranted an ejection. It's always unfortunate when players can’t ultimately decide the outcome of the game.”
It was the second time Schneider has been ejected this season and fourth time in his career.
“He was stating his case that he thought the pitch was low and he was on his way back to the dugout,” the manager said of Springer. “So at that point, usually (an umpire will) just let a star player go back to the dugout. What (Springer) said, I don't think warranted an ejection. I know what I said did.”
It wouldn’t be a stretch to tie the vivid displays of frustration to the current state of the Blue Jays’ offence. The club recorded 32 hits but scored just seven runs against the Guardians in the four-game series and the fact that they walked away with two wins is entirely due to the strength of its pitching staff, which has continued to carry a heavy burden.
On Thursday, the Blue Jays twice stranded the bases loaded without pushing across a run.
“We got to just start getting that sac fly, that hit, whatever it may be,” said Schneider. “But sooner or later, those hits are going to come when we do get guys on … Sooner or later, hopefully this starts evening out.”
Guardians right-hander Noah Syndergaard stifled the Blue Jays over his 5.2 innings, but the club strung together a pair of runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Whit Merrifield and a run-scoring single by Brandon Belt. They managed to load the bases in that frame but after Springer’s strikeout, Alejandro Kirk popped up to second and Davis Schneider went down swinging.
Meanwhile, Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah wasn’t at his best on Thursday. He allowed four runs on four hits over four-plus innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out six while throwing 93 pitches (57 strikes).
In his six starts since being recalled from the minor-leagues, Manoah has posted a 4.90 ERA over 29.1 innings with 17 walks and 31 strikeouts.
“I felt like I was just out there grinding,” Manoah said. “Didn't really get into a good rhythm. They did a good job of spoiling some good pitches and I just got to be better and try to get the team a shot to win.”
In the second inning, Manoah issued two walks and both runners came around to score on consecutive hits by Jose Tena and Brayan Rocchio. The duo struck against Manoah again in the fifth when Tena — the Guardians’ No. 9 hitter whose two hits on Thursday were the first of his big-league career — and Rocchio smacked back-to-back doubles.
The Guardians pushed across another run that inning when Kole Calhoun grounded out to second base on a drawn-in infield, but Davis Schneider bobbled the ball and, because of that, threw to first instead of trying for an out at the plate.
“When he's in the zone, he's good,” Schneider said of Manoah. “It wasn't a whole lot of hits. But I think when you're putting unnecessary guys on base … you put yourself behind the eight ball.”
The Blue Jays concluded their seven-game road trip through Boston and Cleveland with a 5-2 record and will head home for a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs at Rogers Centre that begins Friday.
INJURY NOTES: Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning and removed from the game with a right hand contusion. He underwent precautionary X-rays that were negative. “Feels like (Jansen’s) been hit about a dozen times over the past couple of weeks,” said Schneider. “So I just wanted to be careful with him.” … Blue Jays left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu (right knee contusion) is in line to make his next scheduled start, this Sunday at Rogers Centre. He has been improving each day since being struck with a comebacker on Monday and will throw a side session on Friday … Shortstop Bo Bichette (right patellar tendinitis) has been hitting inside the batting cage for the past two days. He has done some light jogging but has yet to run the bases and won’t return this weekend, according to Blue Jays manager John Schneider … Closer Jordan Romano (lower back) threw 33 pitches off a mound on Wednesday and reported feeling good. The Blue Jays haven’t yet determined whether he requires a rehab assignment.
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