Elliotte Friedman joins David Amber to discuss Sergei Bobrovsky’s big night, how he dominated Game 1, and what adjustments Kris Knoblauch could make in Game 2.
OAKLAND, Calif. – Spencer Horwitz’s first start of the season didn’t exactly send the Toronto Blue Jays’ batting order into the blender, although putting him in the two-hole did lead to a number of corresponding changes.
Danny Jansen slid down to fifth, behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, followed by Daniel Vogelbach, subbing in for Justin Turner. With George Springer also off for a day-game-after-night, Daulton Varsho slid over to right field for the first time since Sept 25, 2022, and batted seventh.
The intent with Horwitz’s placement in a new mix?
“It allows a lot of different things,” explained manager John Schneider. “Keeping Vlad and Bo kind of where they are at three and four, want to do that. Getting his kind of at-bat in the middle there after (Davis Schneider). And then it allows us to be a little bit versatile as the game goes on with guys on the bench. You don’t want to say you’re going to hit exactly like you did at triple-A in the big leagues, but he’s in a really good spot right now. So when you’re calling guys up who are rolling, you want to try to take advantage of it and it gets Jano down there to hopefully drive in some runs, too.”
Checkmarks across the board, as the Blue Jays ended a near historic streak of first innings without scoring at 29 games when Horwitz came home on Jansen’s sacrifice fly, before a five-run fifth made for a rare blowout in a Saturday’s 7-0 thumping of the Oakland Athletics.
The outburst came behind Kevin Gausman’s first career nine-inning complete game and ensured his masterful shutout wasn’t wasted the way Chris Bassitt’s eight innings of one-run ball Friday night was, while also idling the relievers ahead of Sunday’s bullpen game that Bowden Francis will start.
“I wanted it,” Gausman said of going back out for the ninth at 97 pitches. “I thought if we kept scoring runs (in the top of the ninth), I was probably going to be done. So I didn’t really know, but Schneids asked me and I wanted it. It’s the second time I’ve pitched nine shutty here (also May 5, 2018, in a 2-0, 12-inning Baltimore loss), but it was nice to get the CG this time and get the win. And it’s always good to give the bullpen a day off.”
The 33-year-old allowed just five hits and a walk while striking out 10
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