The full Dylan Cease experience was on display Friday night as the beleaguered Toronto Blue Jays desperately needed a spark. Cease delivered a scintillating performance, tossing seven shutout innings of five-hit ball with 10 strikeouts, marking his third double-digit strikeout game of the season. Although the outing came against an inferior Los Angeles Angels lineup, Cease was overpowering, keeping the Angels off balance throughout the night.
Cease's Mastery Overpowers Angels
Cease's dominance was evident from the start, as he consistently worked ahead in counts and mixed his pitches effectively. The Angels managed only five hits off him and never seriously threatened to score. Despite Cease's brilliance, the Blue Jays' bats struggled once again, managing just three hits as a team. However, a pair of runs proved sufficient to secure the 2-0 victory.
Jeff Hoffman took over in the eighth inning and faced immediate pressure, allowing a leadoff double. The runner advanced to third on a groundout, but Hoffman escaped the jam with a pop out and a strikeout to preserve the shutout.
Manoah Returns to Toronto Amid Boos
The game also featured the return of former Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah, now pitching for the Angels. Manoah was greeted with boos from the crowd, which seemed unwarranted given his contributions to the team in previous years. The fans even cheered when Manoah threw a wild pitch. He struck out Ernie Clement on a called third strike and nearly hit Jesus Sanchez with a pitch before inducing a pop out. The crowd erupted when reliever Louis Varland entered the game.
Despite the Angels recording twice as many hits as the Blue Jays (6 to 3), Toronto emerged victorious, snapping a four-game losing streak. While it was far from a convincing win, the team rode Cease's arm to get back on track.
Three Key Takeaways from the Game
1. Okamoto's Hot Streak Continues
Kazuma Okamoto has been on a tear since the calendar flipped to May. Heading into Friday's game, he had recorded at least one hit in six straight games. He extended that streak to seven with an RBI single, driving in his ninth run of May and increasing his team-leading total to 24 RBIs. Okamoto also leads the club with 10 home runs, five of which have come in May. His recent hot streak has made every at-bat a must-see event. Defensively, he made a strong play on a chopper in the fifth inning, firing a rocket to first base to end the frame.
2. Myles Straw Provides a Spark
Myles Straw was inserted into the No. 2 spot in the lineup against a left-handed starter, a move that raised eyebrows but was justified by his right-handed bat, speed, and ability to put the ball in play. Entering the night, Straw boasted the highest OPS in the Blue Jays' lineup and ranked third among American League batters with a minimum of 50 plate appearances in contact rate (88.7%). He has also hit two home runs this season, just two shy of his career high. While he struck out swinging in the fourth inning, Straw has flown under the radar and provided a serviceable presence in right field.
3. Guerrero's Patience at the Plate
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been criticized for his lack of power, with only two home runs entering Friday, but his elite plate discipline often goes unnoticed. In one at-bat, Guerrero questioned a called strike and successfully challenged the call, as video replay showed the pitch was outside the zone, resulting in a walk. He walked again in a more conventional manner and later scored the Blue Jays' second run. In another at-bat, he lined out to shortstop. While Guerrero needs to be more of a presence at the plate as the team struggles to produce runs, his ability to draw walks remains a valuable asset.
Up Next
The Blue Jays will send Trey Yesavage to the mound on Saturday for his third start of the season and second at home. Yesavage is 1-1 with a 0.96 ERA. The Angels will counter with right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-1, 3.05 ERA).
