TORONTO – Just a few hours or so after Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier let it slip that he plans to retire, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. let it’s identified to the baseball world he has no plans to place his present scorching streak out to pasture.
Guerrero slammed his fifth homer in six video games and knocked in one other run within the Blue Jays 6-3 win in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.
“I can let you know it’s been nice and it’s not over but,” Guerrero stated when requested if this was the most effective two-week stretch of his profession.
The 25-year-old Guerrero agreed he has been at his greatest just lately. He’s been affected person on the plate, ready for his pitch, and his confidence has been at an all-time excessive.
“Issues are going my method now,” he stated. “I’m hitting the ball laborious and I’m connecting. I’m searching for the appropriate pitch now. I feel that’s the massive distinction.”
Within the final 24 video games, Guerrero has hit .351 (34 for 97) with 9 doubles, 10 homers and 31 RBIs.
“Each single at-bat he simply feels so harmful,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider stated. “Loads of it revolves round the way you’re going to pitch Vlad.
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“He’s beginning to perceive to slender his focus into pitches that he can actually hammer.”
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Whereas the 34-year-old Kiermaier by no means loved an offensive surge like his Blue Jays teammate, he was a defensive gem with 4 gold-glove seasons.
Earlier than the sport, the previous Rays outfielder was interviewed by the Tampa Bay Instances. The final query he was requested was about his future.
“I used to be simply being sincere,” Kiermaier stated. “This may occasionally have caught some off guard, however I’m at peace with my choice. My physique has been speaking to me greater than ever this season.”
Kiermaier remarked that taking part in 10 seasons in Tampa and Toronto on synthetic turf has taken its toll.
Earlier than arriving on the Blue Jays doorstep final season he was a thorn in Toronto’s facet together with his defence and velocity on the plate.
“Watching him play on the opposite facet, he was a man who was straightforward to hate,” Schneider stated. “He was an actual ache within the ass.
“Figuring out him as a participant, a husband and a father over the past year-and-a-half within the clubhouse, he’s the final word skilled. He’s meant rather a lot to this group. He’s in all probability top-of-the-line centre-fielders of this period for the final 10 years or so.”
Kiermaier and his spouse expect the couple’s third baby (a lady) in December.
After the Rays deliberately walked Guerrero to place runners on first and second, back-to-back RBI singles with two out from Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho have been sufficient to spark a four-run eighth inning.
The Blue Jays (46-55) win squared the three-game collection with Tampa Bay (51-51) at a win apiece.
The Blue Jays loved their second win in 5 video games for the reason that MLB All-Star break earlier than 32,276 at Rogers Centre.
A Ben Rortvedt double introduced within the remaining run within the ninth inning for the Rays.
Toronto starter Yariel Rodriguez retired the primary 12 Rays so as. Randy Arozarena broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff double down the right-field line within the fifth inning.
He scored on a single from Josh Lowe that snuck below the glove of a diving Guerrero.
Rodriguez, a 27-year-old rookie, went 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts, giving up a run on two hits and a stroll. That stroll to Richie Palacios scored the tying run within the sixth inning.
Lefty reliever Brendon Little additionally walked Brandon Lowe with two out. Arozarena cashed in Palacios with a hard-hit single to left.
Blue Jays reliever Genesis Cabrera (3-2) registered the win for his two-strikeout eighth inning.
Rays starter Zach Eflin additionally went 5 2/3 innings, permitting two runs on six hits with 4 strikeouts.
ON DECK
Chris Bassitt (8-8) will begin for the Blue Jays within the finale of the three-game set in opposition to Tampa on Thursday afternoon. The Rays will counter with righty Taj Bradley (5-4).
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed July 24, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press