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WASHINGTON -- Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar had a night he'll never forget on Tuesday, and that it happened against one of the best pitchers in the game made it even more special.
Pillar homered twice off Washington starter Max Scherzer and finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs. The breakthrough performance almost single-handedly helped the Blue Jays snap a three-game losing streak with a desperately needed 7-3 victory at Nationals Park.
The two-homer game is something a right-handed hitter had never done in the Major Leagues against Scherzer. It's also something Pillar had never done before at any level: Little Leagues, Minor Leagues, Major Leagues.
"It was a big time for it, and it just felt good to get back and contribute," Pillar said of his three-run shot in the sixth that gave Toronto a 4-3 lead. "May was a long month, and I missed a lot of opportunities that could have changed some games.
"That's the hardest part about struggling, when you're put into a situation with runners on and you're not your best self and you can't contribute and the losses keep adding up. It weighs on you. So to be in a situation like that and to come through and to help us win a game is huge for me and huge for the team."
Pillar homered twice off Washington starter Max Scherzer and finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs. The breakthrough performance almost single-handedly helped the Blue Jays snap a three-game losing streak with a desperately needed 7-3 victory at Nationals Park.
The two-homer game is something a right-handed hitter had never done in the Major Leagues against Scherzer. It's also something Pillar had never done before at any level: Little Leagues, Minor Leagues, Major Leagues.
"It was a big time for it, and it just felt good to get back and contribute," Pillar said of his three-run shot in the sixth that gave Toronto a 4-3 lead. "May was a long month, and I missed a lot of opportunities that could have changed some games.
"That's the hardest part about struggling, when you're put into a situation with runners on and you're not your best self and you can't contribute and the losses keep adding up. It weighs on you. So to be in a situation like that and to come through and to help us win a game is huge for me and huge for the team."
AL EAST IS THERE FOR THE TAKING FOR BLUE JAYS
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The American League East is a complete mess.
For that the Blue Jays thank their lucky stars. Although they’ve encountered problems in their rotation, problems in their bullpen, health issues, the Jays currently sit in fourth spot, percentage points ahead of Boston and just four games out of first place which is held down by the New York Yankees. Nobody has been able to pull ahead so despite the Jays ratty play at times, they are right in it despite their 22-27 mark. The first-place Yanks are just 24-22 and is the lone team in the East that is playing above .500. A measure of the division’s current mediocrity is the fact that over each of the individual club’s past 10 games, just one team sports |
a winning record — Baltimore at 5-5. The Jays are next best at 5-5 with the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays each at 4-6. Boston has gone just 3-7.
There is no beast in the east or if there is one, he’s toothless.
Given all that the Jays feel kind of blessed to be where they are.
From their vantage point, things can only get better.
The rotation has shown signs of improvement from all five of their guys.
The bullpen has some rough edges to smooth out but it is in better shape than at the start of season.
There is no beast in the east or if there is one, he’s toothless.
Given all that the Jays feel kind of blessed to be where they are.
From their vantage point, things can only get better.
The rotation has shown signs of improvement from all five of their guys.
The bullpen has some rough edges to smooth out but it is in better shape than at the start of season.
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
WHITE SOX 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 14 0
BLUE JAYS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 13 1
WHITE SOX 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 5 14 0
BLUE JAYS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 13 1
NYY@TOR: Blue Jays introduced for Opening Day
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