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Toronto’s under-performing offence remains a source of concern, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s play seems to be regressing, while Kevin Gausman deserved a better fate as he reached the 100-pitch total for the second start in a row.
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Even Gausman in vintage Cy Young Award form needed more than two runs on a night the host Kansas City Royals weren’t exactly tearing the cover off the baseball.
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His stuff wasn’t over-powering and certainly the Jays’ offence lacked power.
With the margin for error so slim, the game boiled down to one routine play Vlad Jr. failed to make at first base, a critical fielding mistake that led to three unearned runs in an eventual 3-2 loss for the Blue Jays.
Up until Tuesday, the Jays, for the most part, have been playing good baseball in winning four straight series.
While not at his absolute best, Gausman pitched well enough that he could have earned his first win of the season.
Toronto produced one extra-base hit, but the Vlad Jr. error stood out the most. He also struck out twice on an 0-for-5 night at the plate.
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Sufficiently built up, there are no more excuses when dissecting Gausman, who in his most recent start was able to reach 100 pitches for the first time this season.
Against the Royals in the second game of a four-game set, Gausman was making his fifth start of the season.
He surrendered two hits, a sharply-hit single into left field and an infield hit, in the first inning, but no runs scored.
Through two innings, Gausman had thrown 29 pitches.
In the third, Gausman gave up a two-strike single as K.C. had the leadoff hitter on base for the second time.
Whatever happens going forward, his abbreviated spring training and decreased velocity to begin the season no longer have a bearing on Gausman’s performance. However, as of today, he hasn’t pitched as well as Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi.
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By no means was Gausman a dog on Bark in the Park night at Kauffman Stadium, where he went pitch for pitch with Royals starter Michael Wacha.
At the same time, neither was he worthy of a Cy Young Award.
Gausman recorded his first strikeout of the game to end the fourth inning when he retired the side in order.
His defence did him no favours, while Gausman hurt his cause by allowing too many lead-off hits.
His offence was poised to provide Gausman with run support in the top of the fifth inning.
A hard-hit ball off the bat off Daulton Varsho went for a double, his fifth of the season, to put runners at second and third with one out.
When Davis Schneider was hit in the arm on an inside fastball, the Blue Jays had the bases loaded.
Wacha got the hook and eventually was charged with a run as the Jays led, 2-0.
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In the home half of the fifth, what should have been the third out turned into K.C.’s first run when Vlad Jr. dropped a routine throw by third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
By the time the inning’s final out was recorded, the Royals scored two additional runs as the Jays suddenly trailed.
Gausman left a runner stranded at third when he recorded his second strikeout on the night to end the sixth, which began when he yielded a leadoff double.
His night ended following a two-out walk in the seventh.
SPRINGER IN THE AIR
Perhaps the best of George Springer is behind him as the Jays’ leadoff hitter attempts to regain the form that made him a World Series MVP with the Houston Astros.
Perhaps Springer’s early season woes at the plate will be quickly forgotten when he’s getting on base to begin games or an inning.
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The book on Springer remains incomplete with the team intent on keeping the veteran in the leadoff role, even though many are clamoring for a change.
He entered Tuesday’s game by recording a total of four extra-base hits this season, the most recent on April 6.
Against the Royals, he was aggressive by swinging at the game’s first pitch and turning it into a single by sending it straight up the middle, which is always an encouraging sign.
In Springer’s second at-bat, he led off the third inning. He saw a few more pitches than his first plate appearance, but the result was the same as Springer sent a ball up the middle for a single and would eventually score the game’s first run.
He had a chance to cash in a runner from second base in the fourth, but Springer struck out swinging.
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Springer recorded his third hit on the night when he reached base on a one-out single in the ninth.
KIRK’S WOES
Another scuffling hitter is Alejandro Kirk, who started at catcher and batted in the No. 7 hole.
Kirk is still seeking his first home run of the season.
In his first at-bat Tuesday, Kirk meekly grounded out.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the third, Kirk was ahead 2-0 in the count. He then took a called strike and swung through a pitch for strike two. Kirk popped out in foul territory behind first base to end the inning.
Kirk entered the night with eight runs batted in and one extra-base hit.
As fate would have it, Kirk came up to the plate in the fifth with the bases once again loaded. Only this time, he was facing Royals reliever Chris Stratton.
A sac fly to shallow centre scored Justin Turner, who didn’t even draw a throw to the plate.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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