Kevin Kiermaier’s homer ignites the fuse in a five-run fifth inning

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In the area by the Bay, the Blue Jays made hay.

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In a small way, they also made amends for a missed opportunity when only one run would be produced in a one-run loss to the Oakland A’s.

If this is to be the Jays’ final visit to the Coliseum, winning Sunday’s rubber match is a must, both in terms of escaping the Bay Area with a series win but also in terms of bidding a proper adieu to a venue that has seen better days and far more pleasant times.

Chris Bassitt deserved a much better fate in setting the tone when he went eight complete innings in the series opener, leaving in a 1-1 game before Chad Green’s first pitch in the ninth inning sailed deep over the wall in right field.

Had the Jays’ hitters managed to accomplish anything approaching average at-bats, a win would have been achieved.

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Kevin Gausman was even better Saturday in what must be viewed as his finest outing of the season.

In the end, it will be known as Gausman’s finest game of his career.

This was no means a must-win, but it was pretty close.

To their credit, the Jays didn’t make it even remotely close in winning 7-0.

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Unlike Bassitt, Gausman received plenty of run support.

While Bassitt was better than good, Gausman was flat-out dominant.

As a bullpen day awaits, Gausman needed to be efficient.

The first time Oakland threatened came in the seventh inning when the A’s had runners at second and third with two outs.

A sharply hit ball was pulled down the right-field line on a long foul ball.

Two pitches later, Gausman struck out his 10th batter in recording his second double-digit K total of the season.

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He began the ninth after throwing 97 pitches through eight innings as a complete-game shutout was within Gausman’s grasp.

Gausman had never pitched a shutout.

In fact, during his 12-year run in the show the righty had yet to throw a nine-inning complete game.

All eyes were squarely on the veteran as his teammates seemed focused as though a no-hitter was at stake.

When a routine fly ball was secured to end the game, the shutout was complete. Gausman gave up only five hits.

Bullpen day comes at the right time knowing the pen has tossed exactly one pitch in two games.

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TWO FOR THE SHOW

Spencer Horowitz started at second base in the second game of the series after he was called up from Triple-A Friday night.

He was also inserted in the No. 2 spot in the lineup with right-hander Luis Medina on the mound for the A’s.

Horowitz brought a left-handed bat to the lineup.

It was fellow lefty Daulton Varsho who produced the game’s first hit when he led off the second inning by stroking a sharply hit ball into right field.

Following two outs, Varsho stole second.

When Davis Schneider drew a walk, it brought Horowitz to the plate for his second look at Medina.

A passed ball advanced the runners, setting the table for a potential big moment for Horowitz.

He popped out to short, leaving two runners stranded in scoring position.

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Varsho, meanwhile, started in right field for the first time during his tenure with the Blue Jays.

STREAK BUSTERS

At least the talk surrounding the Jays’ first-inning scoreless streak has been silenced.

Even players took notice of the streak-busting moment when they jokingly asked for the ball to be retrieved once an actual runner crossed home plate for the first time in 30 games.

After going scoreless in Friday night, the Jays took sole possession of second place on the MLB-career list for first-inning futility.

The 1937 Boston Bees hold the dubious honour at 31 in a row.

Here’s the breakdown on how the Jays broke through Saturday:

Schneider led the game off by popping out in foul territory down the third-base line.

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Medina’s lack of control began when he issued a four-pitch walk to Horowitz.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked followed by a free pass to Bo Bichette to load the bases.

Up stepped Danny Jansen, who hadn’t driven in a run since May 23.

His sac fly went deep enough into left field to easily score Horowitz as the Blue Jays finally pushed across a run in the first inning.

Toronto’s first at-bats ended when Daniel Vogelbach flew out.

While the Jays did score a run, no hits were required because the opposing pitcher couldn’t find the strike zone.

When Jansen moved up in the order to the No. 2 hole, it was clearly warranted.

He has been scuffling, a lack of productivity at the plate that did merit a move down in the order.

Jansen went hitless in three games during the Orioles series.

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He grounded out to end the third inning Saturday.

In the fifth, he turned on a fastball and sent it all the way to the wall as Jansen’s second RBI on the day would go into the books.

HIT MEN

In Friday’s late-night 2-1 walk-off loss, the Jays managed to record five hits.

They produced five in the fifth inning Saturday, four going for extra bases.

The fuse was lit by Kevin Kiermaier, who went deep to give the Jays a 2-0 lead following his leadoff homer, his second long ball of the season.

Following outs to Schneider and Horowitz, Vlad Jr. stroked a double and Bichette followed suit by hitting a double as well.

Jansen completed the double trifecta.

Back-to-back walks to Vogelbach and Varsho loaded the bases.

On the first pitch he saw, Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a run-scoring single into left to bring Kiermaier back up the plate.

The back stop at the Coliseum is so expansive that even Vogelbach, who isn’t exactly the most fleet of foot, scored on a wild pitch.

The inning, which featured six straight hitters reaching base, ended when Kiermaier struck out swinging.

In the sixth inning, Ernie Clement pitch-hit for Horowitz and promptly hit a double, Toronto’s fourth of five of the game.

A second move would be made when the Jays replaced Vogelbach at DH for Justin Turner, who drove in Toronto’s seventh run on a sharply hit single in the ninth.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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