Blue Jays win big, but lose Jose Bautista to injury

Kevin Pillar hit two home runs as the Toronto Blue Jays demolished the Philadelphia Phillies 13-2 in the fourth and final game of their series, but Thursday’s win may have come at the cost of Jose Bautista.

Bautista left the game in the seventh inning with what appeared to be a foot injury after running into the right-field wall pursuing a ball. After his foot jammed awkardly against the wall while his heel was planted in the ground, Bautista walked off the field under his own power but was noticeably limping.

Late in the game, Barry Davis updated Bautista’s status on the Sportsnet television broadcast with a report that he was dealing with soreness in his left big toe. Expect further updates on Bautista from the club tomorrow.

Ryan Goins moved into left field to take over for Bautista which brought Devon Travis into the game, who quickly launched his second home run of the season leading off the next inning.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

Edwin Encarnacion‘s scorching hot streak continued as he went 2-for-4 with his 18th home run and four RBIs. Michael Saunders also added his 12th home run, going back-to-back with Encarnacion in the first. Josh Donaldson was a force himself, going 3-for-3 with a double and two walks.

As a team, the Blue Jays combined to produce 17 hits, a season high. It wasn’t without controversy, however, as Pillar was called out at second base earlier in the game for an “illegal” slide that appeared to be fully within the rules. This was not the first time that this rule has impacted the Blue Jays’ season, and it remains one of the more contentious topics in Major League Baseball.

Starting pitcher J.A. Happ got in on the action at the plate himself, stroking a smooth single to centre-field and scoring a run. On the mound, Happ pitched seven inning and allowed just one unearned run, striking out five and allowing only three hits.

The Blue Jays open a three-game series tomorrow against the Baltimore Orioles on the road. Aaron Sanchez (6-1, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to face Edwin Encarnacion enthusiast Mike Wright (3-3, 5.31 ERA) in the opening game.