The Rogers Centre came alive last night as Ernie Clement put on a hitting clinic, leading the Blue Jays to an 11-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics in what might be the team’s most complete offensive performance this season.
I’ve covered countless games at the Rogers Centre, but there was something special in the air as Clement delivered a career-high four hits while the Jays bats finally broke out of their season-long slump. It was the kind of performance that reminds you why baseball matters so much in this city.
“Everything felt good today,” Clement told reporters in the clubhouse afterward, still visibly energized from his performance. “I’m just trying to help the team win any way I can.”
The utility infielder has been a revelation since joining the Jays, embracing his role with the kind of workmanlike attitude that resonates with Toronto fans. His batting average now sits at an impressive .372 after last night’s showcase.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his recent hot streak, contributing a two-run homer that nearly reached the 500 level. The crack of his bat echoed throughout the dome, sending the Tuesday night crowd of 26,657 into a frenzy.
“When Vlad connects like that, you just watch and enjoy,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “That ball was absolutely crushed.”
The victory improved Toronto’s record to 16-18, offering a glimmer of hope after what has been a challenging start to the season. The team’s 16 hits marked a season high, suggesting the offensive woes that have plagued them might finally be subsiding.
Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm noted on social media that this could be a turning point. “When you see production up and down the lineup like tonight, it changes the entire complexion of what this team can accomplish.”
For those of us who’ve watched this team struggle to plate runs, last night felt like a collective exhale. The Jays scored in five different innings, showcasing the kind of consistent offensive pressure they’ve been missing.
Kevin Gausman delivered a solid if unspectacular start, going five innings while allowing three runs. The bullpen bent but didn’t break, doing just enough to preserve the lead generated by the offense.
Baseball Canada’s director of national teams Greg Hamilton, who was in attendance, told me between innings that Clement’s performance exemplified the “next man up” mentality that successful teams need. “That’s how you weather injuries and slumps—unexpected contributions from role players who seize their moment.”
The game wasn’t without concerns. The Athletics mounted several comeback attempts, including a three-run eighth inning that momentarily silenced the crowd. But unlike previous contests where such rallies might have spelled doom, the Jays’ offense had provided enough cushion.
Davis Schneider added three hits of his own, while Daulton Varsho and Bo Bichette each contributed two hits to the cause. It was the kind of balanced attack that hitting coach Guillermo Martinez has been preaching since spring training.
“When everybody’s contributing, that’s when baseball is the most fun,” Clement reflected. “It takes pressure off individuals when the whole lineup is dangerous.”
The series continues tonight at the Rogers Centre, with Yusei Kikuchi taking the mound for Toronto. If last night’s offensive outburst wasn’t an anomaly but rather a sign of things to come, the Jays might finally be positioning themselves for the kind of run fans have been anticipating.
For a team that entered the season with World Series aspirations only to stumble out of the gate, games like this offer more than just a notch in the win column—they provide a template for sustainable success.
As I packed up my notes and headed for the press box exit, the stadium operations crew was already preparing for tonight’s game. In baseball, yesterday’s triumph quickly gives way to tomorrow’s challenge. But for one night at least, the Blue Jays reminded everyone of their potential.
And in Ernie Clement, they may have found the kind of unheralded contributor that championship teams often discover along the way.
