Borucki, Blue Jays encouraged by 2019 debut

TORONTO -- The good news for the Blue Jays is that Ryan Borucki returned to a Major League mound on Monday night at Rogers Centre.

The potentially bad news is that the team may have lost another pitcher in Borucki’s return, a 7-3 loss to the Indians. On the same day Toronto announced that Trent Thornton would be joining the sidelined members of the team with right elbow inflammation, right-handed reliever Justin Shafer exited the game with elbow discomfort in his throwing arm.

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“All I know is that he felt a pinch, and when somebody feels something, we take him out of the game,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. “Well, he actually took himself out of the game. But hopefully nothing’s wrong.”

On the bright side, any worries stemming from the smattering of blood spots visible on the belt loop of Borucki’s pants during the game, wiped from the middle finger of his throwing hand, are for naught.

“I just cut myself,” the 25-year-old left-hander said. “I threw a slider and that happens to me a couple times a year. My thumbnail was a little bit too long. It just cut the side of my finger, so that was what was bleeding.”

The issue wasn’t so severe that the Blue Jays felt the need to remove Borucki from the matchup, nor do they believe will it have any lasting effects. Toronto did, however, need to head to the bullpen when the young southpaw reached 94 pitches with two outs and a runner on in the fifth inning.

In his first start back after being sidelined during Spring Training with left elbow inflammation that was later identified as a bone spur, Borucki allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound lefty exceeded the total number of walks (three) he allowed over 18 innings in his four rehab starts. It was too much for the Blue Jays to overcome on a night when they scored just three runs, coming on a towering solo homer by Justin Smoak and a two-run shot by Billy McKinney.

“Just was a little rusty,” Borucki said. “Had a lot of adrenaline running, first day out. But it’s a good building block from now on, so just something to build off of for my next starts, and a good starting point for me.

“Obviously, first one back after injury, you just want to go out there and try to throw a lot of scoreless innings, but that wasn’t the case today. I was anxious a little bit, just wanted to get that first one under my belt.”

Borucki and the Blue Jays fell behind in the second inning when shortstop Freddy Galvis didn't touch second base on a double-play attempt before a two-out single from Francisco Lindor plated a pair of runs. Cleveland added another two-out run in the third, and one more in the fifth off Toronto’s starter, but the Blue Jays skipper was happy with what he saw.

“[Borucki] did a good job,” Montoyo said. “We made that mistake in the [second] inning and then Lindor got a two-out base hit, and then the next inning [Jason] Kipnis gets a two-out base hit, too. I thought he did a good job.”

Borucki went 4-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 17 starts over 97 2/3 innings with 67 strikeouts as a rookie last year, and though he understands the challenges he faces as he matches up against players in midseason form, he looks forward to getting back to what made him successful and doing more of it for the rest of the year.

“Obviously there’s that pressure, but everyone’s journey is a little bit different,” Borucki said. “Hopefully my next couple starts, I can find my groove and then just try to do what I did last year.”

Shafer came on in relief of Borucki and faced only six batters. The 26-year-old right-hander has been one of Toronto’s most impressive relievers of late, and he had not allowed a run over his last seven games, spanning 9 2/3 innings, entering Monday.

Shafer helped Borucki out of his jam to finish the fifth, before allowing two doubles -- sandwiching a sacrifice bunt -- and issuing two walks. The second free pass was followed by a visible grimace and his exit.