Blue Jays’ offence struggles again as Alek Manoah of old resurfaces

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The Alek Manoah who fans of the Blue Jays and the franchise itself have been accustomed to seeing resurfaced on Mother’s Day.

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Whether it was the Rogers Centre roof peeled back for the first this season or Manoah’s new braided hairstyle, there was a different vibe radiating off the mound each time Manoah reared back and threw a pitch, his first appearance at home since late July last season.

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In his season debut last week in Washington, two home runs were surrendered and far too many walks during a four-inning outing.

Luckily for Manoah, the Jays offence bailed him out, but it wasn’t enough as the host Nationals prevailed.

In Sunday’s series finale against the visiting Minnesota Twins, Manoah looked in complete control, highlighted by a four-pitch sixth inning. He was in attack mode right from the start, despite giving up a single to Twins leadoff hitter Edouard Julien.

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Through six scoreless innings, Manoah was very economical in requiring 57 pitches and was equally effective with 42 being called for strikes. By any measurement, Manoah looked as good as he has in quite some time.

A day after Toronto’s maligned offence exploded for a season-high 16 hits resulting in a season-high 10 runs in a thrilling comeback win, the Jays reverted to their stagnant form in a 5-1 loss to Minnesota.

It’s never an encouraging sign when a team has as many errors as hits, a sure recipe for defeat. Manoah clearly deserved a better fate and yet he was left to lament the one that got away as Minnesota won the series rubber match.

Toronto’s two errors would be committed by one individual, third baseman Ernie Clement. The second was by far the most costly.

After retiring Carlos Correa to lead off the top of the seventh, Manoah induced a ground ball to the left side of the infield. Clement went to his left, but was unable to field the fall, allowing Max Kepler to reach base on the error. Willi Castro then singled into right field.

Up stepped Carlos Santana, who put his personal spin on the expression oye como va by sending the ball over the wall in right centre field for a three-run home run. All three runs were unearned.

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Clement’s gaffe in the seventh inning proved to be a tough pill to swallow on a day the Jays otherwise flashed the leather.

When Correa hit a ball heading for the hole in right, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made the catch and nearly turned a double-play after executing a cartwheel worthy of any world-class gymnast.

In another at-bat, Correa ripped a slider to the track in deep left field, only to see Davis Schneider record the out.

The day was the epitome of a pitching duel. Twins starter Bailey Ober was quite good as well, retiring the first 11 batters he faced.

Guerrero was the first to reach base when he lined a ball into right centre field as his hot streak continued.

Toronto came back from a 7-1 hole Saturday and would threaten in the home half of the seventh inning Sunday after Minny forged its 3-0 lead.

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Ober’s day had ended when the Jays loaded the bases with one out. They scored their first run when Danny Jansen’s sac fly brought Guerrero home.

Guerrero reached base on a walk after Cole Sands replaced Ober. Kody Funderburk, who relieved Sands, struck out Isiah Kiner-Falefa swinging to end the inning.

As well as Manoah pitched, outside of the Santana pitch, which was actually outside of the zone, the Blue Jays offence once again showed its anemic side.

Chalk it up to the randomness of baseball for those who are so inclined, but it is odd how one day so many hits are produced and the next so few. Perplexing can also sum up the turn of events in the box or perhaps Sunday only magnified how porous this lineup can look and perform.

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George Springer was back in the leadoff spot after Schneider led off Friday’s series opener and Saturday’s game, when he emerged as one of three hitters to go yard for the Jays in their 10-8 win.

Credit the Twins, though, who came to town playing good baseball, leaving with the series win, while the Jays have lost three home series in a row.

Toronto will be in Baltimore for a three-game set against the Orioles beginning Monday.

As for Manoah, Sunday’s outing was very encouraging. After throwing one change-up in his season debut, Manoah threw 19 on Mother’s Day. Four hits were surrendered, six strikeouts recorded and only one walk issued.

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