The Toronto Blue Jays can clinch a winning six-game homestand and also take their series against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday afternoon.
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can equal his career-best 22-game hit streak in the middle game of a three-game series.
Guerrero went 2-for-4 with two singles on Friday night when Toronto won the series opener 3-1.
“I think the two hits he got off me were both pitches out of the zone,” Oakland starter Mitch Spence said. “He’s seeing the ball really well and he’s an unbelievable hitter. It’s cool to come in and get a chance to face him.”
Guerrero is 39-for-77 (.506) with 11 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 22 RBIs and 24 runs during the streak.
“It’s crazy,” said Toronto starter Jose Berrios, who pitched seven strong innings. “It’s like seeing my two kids playing PlayStation with him. He’s been doing whatever he wants with the ball. It’s fun to watch.”
Berrios struck out eight on Friday, including Brent Rooker swinging in the sixth inning for No. 1,300 in his career.
Guerrero also chased down a foul ball hit by Shea Langeliers before falling into the netting and into the seats. It was the third out with runners at the corners in the sixth inning of a 1-1 game.
“I told him it was a fake dive into the net,” Blue Jays right fielder George Springer said.
It was a frustrating night for Langeliers, who went 1-for-4. He also made the third out of the eighth with a runner at first when Toronto shortstop Leo Jimenez caught his tricky low line drive.
The Blue Jays are scheduled to start Yariel Rodriguez (1-4, 3.86 ERA) on Saturday. He has never faced Oakland. In his most recent outing, the right-hander threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Oakland is scheduled to start right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-3, 4.64 ERA), who has not faced Toronto. He lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday after giving up three runs (two earned) in six innings.
The Blue Jays are 3-1 to start their six-game homestand. They have won eight of their past 11 games at home.
Toronto got solo homers from Springer and Spencer Horwitz, who was 3-for-4, on Friday. Springer’s homer was his 59th leading off a game, second on the all-time list to Rickey Henderson’s 81. Over his past 37 games, Springer is batting .290 (40-for-138) with seven doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 27 RBIs.
Oakland’s Darell Hernaiz hit his first career home run in the third inning. The 23-year-old third baseman was playing in his 33rd major league game.
“It was a big sigh of relief to get it out of the way,” he said, admitting that he thought it was going to be a double.
“You could see the joy in the smile when he rounded first base,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said.
The Athletics, who had a dismal start to the season, are 18-13 since the start of July. The Blue Jays, who have disappointed this season, are 16-17 in the same stretch.
Oakland’s JJ Bleday went 1-for-3 with a double on Friday. Over his past 20 games, he has gone 22-for-67 (.328) with 10 doubles, a triple, two homers and six RBIs. His 33 doubles were tied for the third most in the majors.
–Field Level Media