Teoscar's 13th HR of '20 lifts Blue Jays in 10th

The Blue Jays have perfected their 2020 script. A reserved opening scene typically leads to some chaos in the middle, often of their own doing. But it always seems to end back in the same place: a tight game being broken wide open in the final moments.

On Thursday night at Fenway Park, it was Teoscar Hernández's turn once again, as the Blue Jays’ breakout star launched his 13th home run of the season, a go-ahead three-run homer in the 10th inning, to lift Toronto to a 6-2 win over Boston. Hernández is now in a five-way tie for the MLB lead in homers.

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The Blue Jays' offense got off to a slow start, not getting a hit off Red Sox starter Martín Pérez until the seventh. After Toronto sent the game to extras, Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each went deep in the 10th.

The power has always been there for Hernández, but he’s giving himself more opportunities to tap into that in 2020. In the big picture, that means limiting strikeouts. On a smaller scale, it means Hernández is seeking his ideal pitch instead of jumping on the first strike he sees.

“This year, it’s part of my plan, trying to stay calm at the plate,” Hernández said. “I know they’re not going to throw me good pitches on the first pitch of many at-bats. Sometimes I go for the first pitch, but sometimes I take that first one to see the way they’re going to pitch me that day. I think it’s working out for me, and I’m going to keep doing it.”

The Blue Jays moved into a tie for second place in the American League East with the Yankees, who they’ll soon play 10 times in a 19-day stretch. The top two teams from each division automatically make the expanded 16-team postseason, along with two Wild Cards from each league.

Hernández’s homer in the 10th went the opposite way to right-center field, with his effortless raw power on full display. The inning started with Derek Fisher as the automatic runner on second base. Cavan Biggio walked, and two batters later, Hernández connected. He was soon followed by Gurriel, whose solo homer went just inside the left-field foul pole and over the Green Monster to give Toronto added breathing room.

Another cornerstone of Blue Jays games in 2020 has been winning in spite of an early baserunning blunder or fielding error. The young team has had some growing pains in those areas, and in the fourth inning, they showed that again.

After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a two-out walk, Gurriel hit a popup into shallow right field, but the ball was dropped on an error by second baseman Michael Chavis. Guerrero was approaching third by the time the ball hit the ground, where he pulled up. But Guerrero then made a decision to break for home. Chavis was just several steps onto the outfield grass, standing with the ball in his hand, and he threw home in plenty of time to nab Guerrero.

Hernández, who helped make up for it later, explained how players in the dugout handle those moments and turn the page.

“He obviously tried to stay aggressive and tried to score a run,” Hernández said. “It was the third out of the inning. I just said to him that he needs to get focused on defense now and forget about that play, because we all had a new opportunity to do something good for the team.”

The Blue Jays have weathered and overcome those mistakes, but many of their one-run and extra-inning games could be simpler. There will likely be plenty of tight games in late September and potentially October, so their margin for error could be small. Manager Charlie Montoyo is holding his line, though, prioritizing teaching and development.

“I just tell [Guerrero], ‘That’s a bad decision,’” Montoyo said. “When you get thrown out by that far, it’s a bad decision, but I can see the effort. I love how he’s trying hard, but that one time, that wasn’t a good play.”