» Jays offence unleashed, Gausman shines in bounce-back win

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The vibes still wafting through the Rogers Centre early in Friday’s second Blue Jays game of the season were heavy with a 2024 feel.

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There was the lingering stench of Thursday’s 12-2 shellacking at the hands of the Orioles joined by the first three innings in which the Jays had runners in scoring position with one out in each of them and couldn’t get a man across.

The Toronto offence woke up through a five-run, bat-around (and bizarre) fourth inning that abetted by some shoddy O’s defence pushed five runs across.

And then the retooled offensive approach for this season kicked in and couldn’t stop flowing, belting out 14 hits on the night.

As early-season momentum goes, it was a needed exhale for the Jays, who then cruised to a comfortable and exhaling 8-2 win over their AL East rivals.

Our takeaways from Game 2 of 162:

1. Good as Gaus

With all due respect to opening day starter Jose Berrios, if the Jays starting staff is going to dominate, Kevin Gausman will re-emerge as the ace of the group.

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After a normal spring training, Gausman was sharp at times and efficient throughout as he allowed just three hits in six innings of excellent work, giving up two runs. The only real blemish was a second-inning homer to the O’s Jackson Holliday. But there were three-up, three-down innings in each of the first, second and sixth.

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For the Jays to do have a dominant rotation — as many expect they might — they’re going to need Gausman to be better than good and his season debut was not only a strong move in the right direction, but validation of a rejuvenated off-season.

“He has very high expectations of himself every time he pitches,” Jays manager John Schneider said prior to Friday’s contest. “I think going through last year was kind of good for him to set up (a big) offseason. I don’t think it was a wakeup call (last season), I think he adjusted some things and how he got ready.”

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Post-game, Schneider raved about Gausman’s performance and presence and articulated the importance of that effort after a blowout loss the previous day.

“Building off of a good winter and good spring, he had electric stuff,” the manager said. “I thought from the first inning, Kev kind of just said ‘OK, here I am.’ His stuff was legit from the first pitch.

“He was as advertised. That’s what really good pitchers do after a tough night (for the team on Thursday.)”

2. Welcome, offence

Whether like what the front office did to offer a jolt to the Jays offence, how the group produces will most likely decide how the season unfolds. There are still all sorts of questions on whether there are enough bats to completely rebound from the team’s worst offensive output since 1997, but with a kick-start, bat-around fourth inning on Friday, we may have gotten a taste.

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The highlights: There were five players with a pair of hits or more, including the top three in the order — Bo Bichette, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander.

There were three booming doubles: Guerrero, Will Wagner and a pinch-hit effort from speedy Ernie Clement.

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And it was all started in that fortuitous fourth when the Jays scored one on a bases-loaded walk, another on a wild pitch and two more via sac flies.

It takes what it takes and the rest of the night it looked like Schneider had the makings of a balanced offence he had through camp.

3. Kids are all right

While much of the expectations for the Blue Jays in 2025 hinge on veterans, there was certainly some inspiring play from a couple of young players on Friday, defensive gems that breathed life into the Rogers Centre crowd of 26,289 and into the Jays dugout.

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The first was a sensational diving catch by Alan Roden in the top of the second to rob Ryan O’Hearn of extra bases and pave the way to an easy 1-2-3 Gausman inning.

The next came in the following inning when Wagner made a great stab of a Tyler O’Neill bullet at third then followed with a bullet throw to get the out at first to a stretching Guerrero.

Why were these plays so significant beyond the offence? As much as there is a veteran presence throughout the position player ranks, the depth is thin. Motivated and talented young players contributing early can offer a welcome boost.

UP NEXT

Round three of the four-game series is a 3:07 matinee at the Rogers Centre and it’s appointment viewing for Blue Jays fans. That’s because 40-year-old Max Scherzer will make his Toronto debut facing fellow righty Dean Kremer for the Orioles. After three sensational spring training starts followed by some thumb soreness, the crafty veteran is ready to make his Blue Jays debut.

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