Bautista hits grand slam as Jays pummel Indians
By John Lott, Postmedia News
Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista (C) is congratulated by team mates after hitting a grand slam in the fourth inning of their American League MLB baseball game against the Cleveland Indians in Toronto.
Photograph by: Fred Thornhill, Reuters
TORONTO — So, Cito Gaston, what say you to fans who are surprised that Travis Snider is not in your lineup on his first day back from the minors?
Gaston chuckled. “They can be surprised all they want,” he said.
Before his troops clobbered the Cleveland Indians 8-1, the Toronto Blue Jays manager made it clear that Snider will not receive preferential treatment when it comes to playing time.
For the moment, Gaston wanted to stick with the lineup that had won three straight games, and that plan worked out pretty well.
In a year of milestones, the indomitable Jose Bautista reached another, whacking his first grand slam among 31 homers. Gaston pulled him for a pinch-runner in the eighth, amid online rumours that the San Francisco Giants were pursuing baseball’s home-run leader in a trade before Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.
Bautista’s blast was the key blow in support of Shaun Marcum’s 10th win. Marcum allowed three hits and struck out 10 in seven innings.
Regarding Snider’s role, Gaston reiterated that he plans to rotate seven players among six positions for the foreseeable future. Snider, he said, “will get enough playing time” playing right and left field in that scheme.
Considered a cornerstone of the Jays’ future at 22, Snider just returned from a 2 1/2-month hiatus following a wrist injury. He had batted .385 with 12 extra-base hits over 14 games before the injury shut him down.
“I’m just trying to play everybody, that’s all, trying to be fair with everyone,” Gaston said. “Even Vernon (Wells) is going to be out of there sometimes. Guys are going to rotate around (days off) — first base, third base, the outfield.”
And designated hitter, too. Adam Lind will get the occasional start at first base, Gaston said.
So the rotation would affect Snider, Lind, Wells, Bautista, Lyle Overbay, Edwin Encarnacion and Fred Lewis, depending in part on pitching matchups.
Perhaps the most contentious rationale in this plan is Gaston’s assertion that he will stick with Encarnacion at third base, even though he could move Bautista to third from right field and restore Snider’s old job.
Suggesting Encarnacion could become a free agent after the season — which will happen if the Jays refuse to offer arbitration — Gaston said he wanted the third baseman to showcase his talents to other clubs.
“I want to try to give him a chance to get a job next year, too,” Gaston said, adding that he had adopted the same approach when Overbay struggled earlier this season.
Encarnacion entered the game batting .313 in 20 games since returning from a minor-league stint.
After his rehab period, Snider was unexpectedly optioned to double-A New Hampshire for another 12 days. He said he was “disappointed” his recall was delayed.
“In this game, you’ve got to learn to expect the unexpected,” said Snider, who batted .296 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 20 games at New Hampshire.
“I think it was a good time for me to really get things locked in and get back to swinging the bat the way I can.”
He said he was ready for any role Gaston has in mind.
“As long as we’re winning and guys are playing well, any way I can contribute, I’m happy to be on the bench (or) in the starting lineup,” he said, modelling diplomacy by refusing to reference his old job. “I’m just happy to be here.”
He pinch-ran for Bautista in the eighth and finished the game in right field.
Marcum retired the first 12 batters in order before the Jays rocked starter Justin Masterson with a six-spot in the fourth. Bautista, who continued his torrid July surge with three hits, hit his first grand slam since September 2006, when he played for Pittsburgh.
Marcum gave up two hits and a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
The Jays made a minor-league deal Friday, acquiring former National League slugger Mike Jacobs from the New York Mets’ Buffalo farm club and assigning him to triple-A Las Vegas. Jacobs, 29, will take over first base for Brett Wallace, who was traded to Houston on Thursday.
National Post