Cavan Biggio’s three-run blast saves the day as Blue Jays avoid sweep
![Cavan Biggio’s three-run blast saves the day as Blue Jays avoid sweep Cavan Biggio’s three-run blast saves the day as Blue Jays avoid sweep](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/torontosun/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Matt-Chapman-June11-scaled-e1686516660861.jpg?quality=100&strip=all)
There have been many moments when Kevin Gausman has looked virtually unhittable, games when his pitching reaches an elite level.
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But in other rare moments, he has looked like a candidate primed for a demotion.
One such instance played out on Sunday, evoking memories of previous early-inning meltdowns in Houston and Boston as he gave up four first-inning runs to the Minnesota Twins.
The Blue Jays bats eventually picked up their staff ace with a six-run rally — three of those coming on an eighth-inning Cavan Biggio home run — to beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 7-6 and avoid a weekend sweep.
“I got it as (well) as I could,’’ said Biggio, making a rare start at first base, following the win.
“The way the game was going and how we gained momentum, I thought something would happen and it did. It was the culmination of a lot.”
For Biggio, who is hitting just .186, it was his fifth homer of the season. He carried his bat down the first-base line for an extended time as he followed the flight of the ball, but couldn’t recall what thoughts were circulating in his mind. He did admit, though, that with at-bats limited, taking advantage of opportunities and staying aggressive at the plate are critical.
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Down 6-1, slowly but surely, the Jays were able to work around Gausman’s ineffectiveness by creating base-runners and then producing timely hits.
A two-run homer in the fifth by Matt Chapman cut the Twins lead to 6-4. Alejandro Kirk and Santiago Espinal then led off the eighth, setting the stage for Biggio’s heroics.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider lauded Biggio’s approach on the fateful blast.
“Just a really good game for him,’’ said Schneider of Biggio, who went 2-for-4 on the day.
As for Gausman, the right-hander said the Twins have had a way of making life difficult.
“They jumped on me quick and I tried to salvage it,’’ he said. “A lot of pitches, a lot of walks, too many 3-2 counts. Obviously, not very sharp.”
A superstitious type, Gausman said he watched the rest of the game inside the trainer’s room.
He had a beer and as the team rallied he decided to have another.
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“It was the rally sip,’’ he said.
Not lost in the win was Toronto’s bullpen, which turned things back around following a rough outing in Saturday’s loss.
Mind you, Jordan Romano did not have his best stuff, either, when he entered the game to begin the ninth inning.
He led off the frame by issuing a walk and then got an out on a deep fly to left field, giving the Twins the tying run at second with Carlos Correa at the plate.
But Bo Bichette made a nice play to his left by securing the ball and throwing Correa out at first as Willi Castro advanced to third.
Up stepped Trevor Larnach to the plate as the crowd began its roar and Romano didn’t disappoint, getting a called third strike for his 18th save.
As for Gausman’s outing, Schneider pointed to location as the primary culprit.
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“They’ve (Twins) approached him well before,’’ said Schneider. “They make him work a little bit more than, it seems like, other teams. Double plays helped him. Good approach and it was not his best day.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Gausman avoided additional carnage when his defence picked up the struggling starter with three double plays over the first four innings.
The final one was initiated by Chapman, who fielded a sharply hit ball off the bat of Michael A.
Taylor and promptly ran to his right before stepping on the bag to force the out with Royce Lewis on the basepath then making the throw to first to record the double play.
FIRST INNING RECAP
Gausman’s outing began inauspiciously when he gave up a double followed by a walk then another double and a walk and a Larnach single to plate two more. A Lewis infield single made it 4-0.
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And when Gausman struck out Max Kepler for the first out of the game, the restless crowd inside the Rogers Centre — which featured a roof closed — showed its frustration by cheering lustily.
In total, the protracted first forced Gausman to throw 36 pitches.
QUICK PITCHES
The Jays recalled reliever Thomas Hatch from triple-A Buffalo and made quick use of the righty when Gausman was given the hook. Bowden Francis, who threw 2.2 inning s of relief in Saturday, was optioned to the Bisons … Nate Pearson was credited with the win, throwing two runless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out three … “Huge innings for them,’’ said Schneider of Hatch and Pearson. “Nate has turned the corner in believing in who he really is, challenging hitters and having that confidence and demeanor.’’ … Schneider said an MRI was taken on Brandon Belt (hamstring). There was no structural damage, but it did show inflammation. Belt is day-to-day as is Kevin Kiermaier (wrist).