Here’s hoping the Jays save some of this inspired brand of baseball for the regular season as they set a franchise record with their 22nd victory of the grapefruit season beating the Boston Red Sox 3-2. All the talk was on speedster Anthony Gose who stole second, third and home in the eight inning after reaching on a walk. Here is the boxscore.
That gave Gose seven stolen bases for the spring, including four in Thursday’s game.
“I never saw anybody steal second, third and home in the same inning in my career,” said Blue Jays manager John Farrell, who arrived in the big leagues in 1987. “He is obviously exciting. He can take over on the basepaths. He has a combination of pure speed, plus the ability to read some things. You just turn him lose. He’s a pure basestealer.”
As for Thursday’s steal of home, Farrell explained Gose saw Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia “lobbing the ball back” to reliever Justin Thomas and took off.
”It’s a risky play,” Farrell admitted, “but with two outs, it was a calculated gamble.”
Up next: The No. 5 spot in the Blue Jays’ rotation may be on the line Friday, when lefty Aaron Laffey (2-0, 4.80 ERA) takes the mound in Dunedin at 1:05 p.m. ET against also unbeaten Liam Hendricks (2-0, 2.40) of the Twins.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Blue Jays manager John Farrell said the club “should have a better read” on the No. 5 starter after Friday’s game and may make a decision on Saturday.
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