» Jays’ Bowden Francis yields three runs on five hits in second inning

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Not since opening day’s outcome have the Blue Jays sported a losing record.

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Following a hideous stay in Houston — where the Astros completed a three-game sweep at Daikin Park with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday night — the Jays sit at 12-13, knowing a weekend date against the Bronx Bombers awaits in the Big Apple.

The Blue Jays managed the grand total of two runs on nine combined hits in three games against the Astros. It was the same old story, a repetitive narrative involving a Jays lineup that can’t hit home runs, or even put up enough runs to remain competitive, even on nights when the club’s pitching does its job.

It’s clear that unless the team’s top of the order delivers, which it hasn’t, nothing will change, regardless of what lineup manager John Schneider decides to insert.

And yes, it is early, and the Maple Leafs are in the playoffs — which means not many are paying attention to the Jays’ feeble offence — but the sooner this team starts to hit, the better.

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Three takeaways from a Blue Jays team whose recent play does not exactly take one’s breath away.

FRANCIS FOILED

Chalk it up to one of those days for Bowden Francis, who had pitched into the sixth inning in each of his previous five starts.

Wednesday would be the exception. A rough second inning cost Francis as the home side pushed across all three of its runs.

Following a Christian Walker leadoff solo home run, Francis gave up a triple, three singles — including four two-strike hits — and a sacrifice fly before getting out of a bases-loaded jam with his team down only 3-0.

Overall, Francis managed a season-low 4.2 innings, but he also gave up eight hits, a season high as his record dropped to 2-3.

SPRINGER DELIVERS

In the opening two games of the series, the Blue Jays managed two measly hits in each loss.

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In the third inning of Wednesday’s series finale, the Jays unloaded for two hits. By their standards, it was cause for celebration.

George Springer, who batted cleanup against his former team, hit a run-scoring double to give him 12 RBIs on the season.

Springer started in centrefield, but it’s been his bat that has taken many by surprise  The way he’s responded at the plate — batting .333 this season, coupled with the way his teammates have struggled, it’s just a matter of time before the Springer moving up to the leadoff spot conversation begins.

Springer also had an epic ninth-inning at-bat against Astros closer Josh Hader when he worked a one-out walk. Following a double by Ernie Clement, the Jays, miraculously, had the tying run in scoring position with one out but couldn’t cash in.

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THE EXCUSE CARD

Every big-league pitcher has the potential to spin a good game. Just look at Francis, whom no one envisioned taking two no-hit bids into the ninth inning last season, one that featured the right-hander being used out of the bullpen before he was sent down to the minors.

Fast forward to Tuesday’s loss and Chris Bassitt’s post-game reaction.

“We knew April was going to be hard for us,’’ he told reporters. “Just keep grinding, don’t panic about these stretches. We have to come out of April on a good foot, we’re there. It would be better to face lower-level pitchers more than top guys over and over.”

No one should be buying it from someone known for expressing some rather, dare we say, unique observations. Like anyone, Bassitt is entitled to his opinion.

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On Wednesday, Houston started Ryan Gusto, recorded his sixth strikeout when he got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. swinging in the sixth inning. Gusto isn’t going to be among the Cy Young Award candidates, but he did prove that, on any given day, any pitcher, regardless of his pedigree, can step up.

He exited after surrendering a two-out walk, his only free pass on the night.

UP NEXT

While it’s an off-day for the Blue Jays on Thursday before they open up a weekend series against the host New York Yankees, it does loom large because it’s expected the team will make a decision on whether Daulton Varsho rejoins the club in the Big Apple or next week at home. Either way, Varsho’s return is imminent.

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