In Friday’s emotion-infused return home, George Springer doubled twice as part of a three-hit night, helping catalyze a 6-4 win. On the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning, Springer hit a towering fly ball to deep left, just sneaking it into the 200 level — the 40th leadoff home run of his career. Nice fourth starter: Alek Manoah hadn’t pitched in over three weeks, having bruised his back in a fall in the Jays’ dugout in Buffalo. As a nod to COVID-19 protocols, the flap above the left-field foul pole was left open to keep some air circulating. Mike Wilner is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star and host of the baseball podcast “Deep Left Field.” Follow him on Twitter: @wilnerness

Source: thestar July 31, 2021 23:37 UTC