Romano celebrates All-Star nod with big save

DETROIT -- Jordan Romano took the American League lead with his 26th save in Sunday’s dramatic, 4-3, comeback win in 10 innings by the Blue Jays. And that capped quite a day for Romano, who was added to the All-Star Game roster for the second consecutive year prior to the game with the Tigers.

Nathan Lukes doubled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to set the stage for Romano and send Toronto (50-41) into the break having won five of six games on a road trip that began in Chicago against the White Sox.

The Blue Jays got to extra innings thanks to Danny Jansen’s game-tying, two-out, two-run homer in the ninth off Tigers closer Alex Lange, who on Saturday finished his team’s no-hit shutout victory.

“It went from one extreme to the other in one swing,” said Toronto manager John Schneider. “It would’ve been easy for them to say, ‘OK, the break’s right here.’ You get no-hit yesterday. It’s easy to say, ‘OK, let’s hop on the bird [for the flight home] and do our thing.’ But they didn’t do that. So, it’s a credit to them.’’

“It’s awesome,” Jansen said. “You feel almost on top of the world at that moment. It was definitely a great finish and an awesome game.”

Romano got the first out in the 10th on a comebacker by Riley Greene, and then he struck out Spencer Torkelson before getting Matt Vierling to ground out. Those are Detroit’s most dangerous hitters, but they couldn’t touch Romano with Zack Short beginning the inning on second base and never advancing.

“Jordy -- I can’t say enough about him,” Schneider said. “A much-deserving All-Star there.

“We wanted to save him for that part of the order. That’s why [winning pitcher] Yimi [García] had the ninth, and we felt comfortable with him. That’s a high-intensity, high-leverage inning [for Romano]. He’s been doing it all year, and it’s pretty impressive.”

Schneider revealed the All-Star news on Romano in a team clubhouse meeting prior to the game.

“I wasn’t sure what it was going to be about,” Romano said. “But he told me I’m going to Seattle. So, I am super pumped. All the boys are happy.”

Romano is 26-for-29 in save opportunities with the most saves by a Blue Jays reliever at the break -- exceeding the 24 B.J. Ryan had in 2006. He’s 4-4 with a 2.87 ERA and has struck out 48 with 11 walks in 37 2/3 innings.

“I’m grateful,” Romano said of his All-Star nod. “A lot of people contributed to this. The training staff, the coaches. So we have a really good system in place, and I think we’re seeing the benefits of that.”

Romano, a 30-year-old right-hander, didn’t appear in last year’s game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, but he was warming up in the ninth inning.

“It was great last year,” Romano said, “but this year I’d like to pitch in it. But it was a great experience, and I’m happy to be going again.”

He’ll join infield teammates Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and Whit Merrifield in Seattle, and added that he’s excited to watch Guerrero in Monday night’s Home Run Derby with Schneider pitching to him.

Toronto starter Kevin Gausman also was named an All-Star but decided not to participate to spend time with his family and “recuperate” from a demanding first half of the season. Romano was named as the replacement for Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez.

Romano said he was calling his wife, Sam Hathcoat, after the media session to inform her that their travel plans were now to fly to Seattle rather than escape for a quick vacation north of Toronto. He added that his parents are also going to the game.

Romano said the most enjoyable part of the experience last year “was just being in the clubhouse with all the players” and gravitating to other closers like the White Sox’s Liam Hendriks.

“I never thought I’d be in that situation, being amongst the best,” Romano said.