Kevin Kiermaier, whom the Jays placed on waivers, crushes grand slam

Article content

Just when it appeared that Kevin Kiermaier’s standing with the Blue Jays couldn’t be more tenuous, a new twist emerged in Sunday’s series finale against the host Arizona Diamondbacks.

Article content

It was one of many twists and bizarre moments.

At least, however, the Jays will head into the all-star break on a winning note following their 8-7 victory, avoiding their third series sweep of the season.

Still, the Jays find themselves at 44-52, last in the AL East and nowhere near contention for the third and final wild-card spot. It’s why change is coming.

Placed on revocable waivers earlier in the week, the veteran Kiermaier — an unrestricted free agent after this season — was essentially told his days in Toronto were numbered.

The business of baseball will dominate the conversation as the Blue Jays move closer to the July 30 trade deadline, but Kiermaier continued to display his professionalism and a fourth-inning grand slam on Sunday did serve as some form of poetic justice.

Article content

Or, perhaps it was his way of sending a message to any potential suitor that the 34-year-old, as well as playing an elite centre field, can still occasionally make some noise with his bat. Though he is batting only .189 for the season, his 395-foot blast to right-centre was the third grand slam of his career and fourth homer of the year.

It highlighted a six-run inning that gave the Jays what looked like a healthy 7-0 lead. But Arizona responded an inning later by scoring seven runs, including four driven in by Ketel Marte’s grand slam off starter Yusei Kikuchi.

In his previous start, Kikuchi struck out a career-high 13 against the Giants in San Francisco. On Sunday, he was solid through four innings, but couldn’t get out of the fifth. He faced 10 batters in the frame, gave up five runs and left the bases loaded with two out after hitting Jake McCarthy with a pitch.

Article content

Article content

It all appeared to unravel for Kikuchi when he slid into the retaining wall in foul territory down the first base line while trying to retrieve an errant ball that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had attempted to flip to him after taking McCarthy’s leadoff grounder.

After Kikuchi left the game, Genesis Cabrera gave up a hit and the game was shockingly tied, 7-7 — with all seven runs, cruelly, charged to Kikuchi.

Vladdy did make amends in the seventh with a leadoff homer, drilled deep to centre, his 14th dinger of the season.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

BERROA’S DELAYED BIG DEBUT

It turned out to be a memorable day for outfielder Steward Berroa, whom the Jays decided to keep around when Addison Barger was sent back to triple-A.

Up until Sunday, Berroa had been used only as a pinch-runner or as a defensive replacement following his July 3 callup.

Article content

Against the D-Backs, the 25-year-old made his big-league debut, starting in right field and batting ninth in the order.

A switch-hitter, Berroa made solid contact on the second pitch he saw from Arizona starter Zac Gallen leading off the third inning, but wound up flying out to deep centre.

Berroa wound up going 0-for-4 in his major-league debut, but made a significant impact defensively in the ninth inning to help preserve the win.

Though few balls were hit his way in the game, Berroa two terrific catches to lead off the ninth — the first when he got turned around on a Gabriel Moreno liner, but recovered to make a lunging grab falling to his left; the second when he out-ran a sharply hit drive by ex-Jay Lourdes Gurriel Jr. deep in right-centre.

Article content

Berroa’s heroics were certainly welcomed the most by interim closer Chad Green.

Green took over from Brendon Little with two out in the eighth and struck out Marte with the tying run on base.

After Berroa bailed him out, Green gave up a soft single to left by Christian Walker before getting Corbin Carroll — who clubbed two home runs in Saturday’s 12-1 rout of the Jays — on a routine fly ball to Kiermaier for his sixth save.

YER OUTTA HERE

For the second game in a row, the Blue Jays had someone ejected by umpire Gabe Morales.

First-base ump Morales tossed Chris Bassitt on Saturday after the pitcher left the dugout to complain about a checked-swing call that had gone against Toronto.

On Sunday, Morales was behind home plate, and called out Daulton Varsho on a checked-swing third strike, which brought manager John Schneider out to challenge.

Article content

By no means is Schneider known for being demonstrative, but he did not hold back when he got tossed. It was likely a carry-over from Saturday’s embarrassing loss. Toss in the Bassitt hook and it’s easy to understand Schneider’s outburst.

DeMarlo Hale served as acting manager after Schneider was ejected.

CALF-EMPTY

In a Jays season dotted with under-performances, few, if any, have been as disappointing as Bo Bichette.

The Jays shortstop, currently day-to-day with his second calf injury in a month, goes into the all-star break in need of a break, much like the rest of his teammates.

Bichette’s hitting struggles have been well-documented. After batting no less than .290 in any of his five major-league seasons, his average is languishing at a career-worst .221. He has homered only four times and hasn’t gone deep since May 22.

Article content

Known for his aggressive approach at the plate and his free-swinging bent, Bichette’s change in body language has been noticeable.
It’s no wonder his long-term future in Toronto remains in doubt.

Barring a miracle, the Jays won’t in the playoffs. And with several pending free agents on the roster, the rumors leading up to deadline day are likely to outnumber the team’s win total in the intervening weeks. The latest involves catcher Danny Jansen, who was behind the plate on Sunday.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, who is as plugged in as they come in the industry, the Chicago Cubs have shown an interest in Jansen.

Whether it’s Jansen, Kikuchi, Kiermaier, Trevor Richards, Yimi Garcia or a handful of others, the season of trade rumors is in full swing.

[email protected]

Article content