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On a night featuring many feel-good stories, the one that resonated the most involved Davis Schneider.
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Short in stature, but big in terms of heart and perseverance, the unheralded Schneider used Boston’s iconic Fenway Park and the vaunted Green Monster to introduce himself to the MLB world.
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And what an introduction it turned out to be as the Blue Jays turned the page from a truly horrific home series against Baltimore.
On Schneider’s very first at-bat in the show, he took Canadian lefty James Paxton deep to left field. The smile on Schneider’s face was unmistakable as he rounded the bases, an authentic show of exaltation he will never forget.
Once inside the team’s dugout, players broke into grins not seen in weeks as they officially welcomed Schneider.
The Jays were all smiles following their decisive 7-3 win, Toronto’s first over the Bosox following seven successive losses this season.
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Making waves in the minors is one thing, but for Schneider, who got the call Friday, it’s quite another to do it in the big league. No one is expecting a 24-year-old taken in the 28th round to suddenly emerge as some kind of savior, but Schneider did provide a much-needed shot in the arm.
At least for one night, Toronto’s much-maligned and generally under-achieving offence didn’t have many issues.
In fact, there were many hits, mostly home runs and a rare win against the Red Sox, who swept the Jays in a four-game series earlier in the season in Boston. By extension, the Jays also posted a rare win against a divisional opponent.
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There was something different about this night in how freely the Jays played.
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There was no air of cockiness, but the sense of confidence was palpable. And the stage didn’t prove too big for Schneider.
No stage is ever too big for Alek Manoah, who looked and pitched as well as he has since his return from the minors.
By no means was he perfect, but he didn’t have to be when Toronto’s offence finally came to life.
When a game begins with a homer, when a player in his MLB debut goes yard and when Daulton Varsho sends a ball into the seats in right field, you know it’s your night. Varsho hadn’t hit a homer since June 17.
Schneider even beat out an infield grounder with one out in the top of the seventh to record his second hit of the night.
With the Jays leading by four, Manoah was able to pitch into the seventh inning. He struck out the leadoff hitter, coaxed a groundout and then got lit up by Yu Chang, who fell behind in the count before hitting a loud homer.
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Once Chang had finished rounding the bases, Manoah was replaced, his night officially in the books.
In his fifth start since his return, Manoah came within one strike of completing seven innings.
Jordan Hicks completed the night’s feel-good theme, closing out the game by retiring Boston’s final four hitters.
COOL HAND ALEK
While it’s never recommended, Manoah bare handed a ball hit up the middle just to the right of the mound.
He secured it cleanly and without hesitation threw it to second base to force out the runner.
The Blue Jays couldn’t complete the double play.
Manoah then stepped off the mound calmly, turned and threw to the bag as Alex Verdugo tried to pull a quick one over the Jays by attempting to steal second base.
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There’s no love lost between Manoah and Verdugo, who, in fairness, regrets making critical comments of Manoah on a podcast earlier this year.
TAKING THE LEAD
Barring some injury or some prolonged slump, Whit Merrifield has quickly turned into the Jays’ everyday leadoff hitter.
The decision to move Merrifield up in the order was made once the club returned from its six-game West Coast trip. With George Springer scuffling and Merrifield living up to his nickname of Two-Hit Whit, the decision was a no-brainer.
It’s now obvious the Jays need to keep Merrifield in the leadoff spot.
On the game’s first pitch, Merrifield took James Paxton deep to left field as the Jays quickly took a 1-0 lead. It was Merrifield’s 10th home run of the season.
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More importantly, Merrifield set the tone as the rest of the team followed his lead.
DeJONG AND HITLESS
Recently acquired Paul DeJong continues to have a tough time at the plate.
In two games against Baltimore, DeJong struck out three times and went a combined 0-for-6.
In Boston, batting eighth in the lineup, DeJong grounded out in his first at-bat and then struck out swinging.
In the top of the fifth, DeJong struck out for the second time. He entered the night having struck out 90 times, while recording 65 hits.
In the home half of the fifth, the Jays played Jarren Duran to go up the middle. DeJong went to his left, but was unable to cleanly handle the ball.
Even if he did, it was unlikely DeJong would have thrown out the speedy Duran.
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At the plate, DeJong finished the night by going 0-for-4.
LUPLOW DOWN
Jordan Luplow’s tenure in Toronto came to an end Friday when the Minnesota Twins claimed the journeyman off waivers.
Coincidentally, the Blue Jays acquired Luplow in early April when the Atlanta Braves placed the 29-year-old on waivers.
He appeared in seven games for the Blue Jays, who DFAed Luplow earlier this week when the club traded for DeJong at the deadline and needed to make room on the 40-man roster for the shortstop.
Once Hicks, DeJong’s former teammate in St. Louis, was acquired in a previous deal, the Jays made room for the hard-throwing reliever by designating RHP Mitch White for assignment.
White cleared waivers Friday and was assigned to the Jays’ triple-A affiliate in Buffalo.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
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