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Eventually and inevitably, the Blue Jays will lose a game.
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Based on how they have been playing and based on the opponents they will be facing, they may not experience a defeat until after baseball’s all-star break.
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The momentum built from a seven-game home stand sweep carried over into the Windy City, where the Blue Jays recorded back-to-back homers in the fifth inning en route to an 8-4 thumping of the host Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
It was Toronto’s ninth win in a row.
Two more games against the lowly White Sox await, followed by three games in West Sacramento, Calif., against the equally woeful Athletics, whom the Jays swept at home, before the break kicks in, which has the potential to disrupt the surge this team has generated.
When all is said and done, the Jays have a realistic chance to establish a franchise record for consecutive wins in a season.
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The high-water mark is 11.
The following are three takeaways on a night when the Blue Jays hit three home runs, while scoring four runs in the sixth inning before an out was recorded.
1. Berrios in cruise control
In his 19th start of the season, Jose Berrios faced the White Sox for the second time.
When he first faced Chicago in Toronto a fortnight ago, the veteran right-hander earned the win. That day, Berrios gave up two hits and one run in 7.2 innings.
On Monday, he gave up his first run in the home half of the second inning.
Had Vladimir Guerrero Jr. been able to handle a sharply hit ball at first base, Chicago would not have scored.
Guerrero did make amends by drawing a leadoff walk in the fourth, stole second base and came around to score the tying run.
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Berrios pitched with the lead after Joey Loperfido went deep on a solo shot, one day after he knocked in a run after being called up from Buffalo for the first time this season. Loperfido added a two-run single in the sixth inning
Through five innings, Berrios had given up two hits, both singles.
When he started the sixth inning, Berrios had all kinds of room for error.
No need to have Berrios on the mound to start the seventh, or so it appeared, with the game firmly in control, paving the way for RHP Robinson Pina to make his Blue Jays debut.
He gave up two runs in the inning and had two runners on base in the eighth, forcing the Jays to have Nick Sandlin warm up in the bullpen.
A one-out base hit scored Chicago’s fourth run, prompting the Jays to summon Sandlin.
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2. Taking the lead
Hard to argue with anything the Jays have done or question any decision the club has made amid so many games being won and the club ascending to first in the AL East.
In fact, entering Monday night the Jays had posted a 26-10 record in their past 36 games, a mark that only got better following the evening’s outcome.
It is perplexing to think Nathan Lukes would be leading off, like he did Monday, when a right-hander starts for the visitors.
He has a great eye at the plate and drew a two-out walk in the third inning.
Lukes can also go yard, which he did after Loperfido’s dinger.
Equally perplexing is to think Ernie Clement will be featured atop the order when the Jays are facing left-handers.
The role has normally been assigned to Bo Bichette.
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When Bichette hurt his knee just prior to the series opener against the visiting New York Yankees, a reshuffling of the lineup was initiated.
All the Jays did was complete a four-game sweep.
The team’s lineup has length and having Bichette hit cleanup is the ideal slot for someone known for driving in runners, as evidenced by his RBI single in the fourth inning Monday that tied the game, 1-1.
3. The Springer snub
Before Monday night’s first pitch, it was announced Springer had been named player of the week for the sixth time in his career and first since 2021 when he garnered the recognition three times with the Blue Jays.
His first two honours came when he played for the Houston Astros.
His latest laurel was a no-brainer, as Springer lit up the Yankees, among others, to spearhead Toronto’s winning streak.
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A former World Series MVP and four-time all-star, there isn’t much Springer hasn’t accomplished.
At the same time, many had written Springer off with even more wondering if the Jays would even buy out the rest of his contract.
One way or another, Springer deserved to be an all-star this season.
If one had to decide between Springer and teammate Alejandro Kirk, who was chosen to his second-career all-star team, Springer would get the nod.
To be perfectly frank, the team’s two all-stars, at least based strictly on performance and merit, should be Kirk, the first two-time all-star catcher in club history, and Springer.
The initial voting process is a glorified popularity contest, which is why Vlad Jr. will start at first base for the fourth time in his career.
For the record, Springer went 0-for-5 Monday.
Up next
Second game of a three-game series at Rate Field in Chicago’s South Side will feature Chris Bassitt getting the start for the Jays; the veteran right-hander faced the team that drafted him and later traded him when the ChiSox were in town two weeks ago; Bassitt went 6.0 innings, gave up one run on three hits, while walking one and recording seven strikeouts in an 82-pitch outing; the White Sox will counter with RHP Aaron Civale, who is looking for his first win of the season.
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