© Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Blue Jays Crank 4 Homers, Annihilate Rangers in Game 2 of Doubleheader
On April 5, the Blue Jays tagged Texas Rangers starter Mike Foltynewicz for four runs. In Game No. 2 of Sunday's doubleheader at Sahlen Field, the Blue Jays teed off on him in the very first inning.
Foltynewicz was visibly frustrated. With two runs in already, a tough call and a walk to load the bases made him shake his head and slump his shoulders. The Blue Jays smelled blood, and the next batter, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., took a big hack on a high fastball. Foltynewicz looked away as the ball flew 409-feet to left-center field. Just like that, a grand slam and a 6-0 lead.
Of course the Blue Jays weren't done just yet. Not even close.
With one out in the second, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cranked his 31st home run of the season, moving within two of Angels' two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani for the league lead.
The very next batter, George Springer came through with his sixth home run of the season. Only after Randal Grichuk ripped a two-run shot — his 18th of the year — did Rangers manager Chris Woodward mercifully pull Foltynewicz from the game. By the time the second inning was over, the Blue Jays led by 10. That score would stand, as Toronto won 10-0.
“This is already a hard enough game. The more you dwell on stuff, the harder it gets,” Springer said. “It’s fun to watch Vladdy, to watch Lourdes, the stuff everybody does. At the end of the day, it’s a game. You have to go out there and attempt to have fun every single day."
The Blue Jays outscored Texas 25-2 in this three-game series and danced their way to the club's first regular season sweep of the Rangers since 2013. There was never a whiff of doubt in either game of Sunday's doubleheader, making Steven Matz's outing even smoother.
Matz hadn’t had a strong outing since June 12 — right before he tested positive for COVID-19 — but looked excellent Sunday afternoon. The left-hander was very efficient through five innings of work, allowing no runs, three hits and striking out two on 68 pitches.
With back-to-back deep outings from its starters, the Jays' bullpen got a breather. Toronto used just two relievers on Sunday, which means everyone should be rested for when the division-leading Boston Red Sox come to town on Monday.
