Ernie Clement continues to rake in recording four hits, including a HR

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Ernie Clement continues to shine, while the Blue Jays continue to soar.

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Granted, the Athletics aren’t a quality major-league team and following Friday night’s 11-7 defeat, they endured their 15th loss in their past 16 games.

Too bad the Jays can’t play the A’s more often. If they could, playoff tickets would be printed.

Clement has certainly left his imprint two games into a four-game series by going yard in back-to-back games, two nights in which he has recorded seven hits, including going 4-for-5 on Friday raising his average to .273.

Addison Barger also went deep in Friday’s victory while Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes also had two hits apiece as the bottom four in the order went a combined 9-for-16 with nine runs scored, two homers and five RBIs.

The following are three takeaways on a night the Blue Jays would score three runs in three different innings to win their third in a row.

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1. Run of the mill

The Rogers Centre roof was half-open or half-closed, depending on one’s perspective.

One could draw a similar comparison to the Blue Jays. It’s hard to judge this lineup when the opposition is as poor as the A’s. Still, the bottom line is the Jays’ bats have flourished in two games, beginning with Thursday night’s win when 18 hits produced 12 runs.

The hitting frenzy carried over into Friday when 15 hits were recorded and every starter in the lineup produced at least one.

2. Canada Day

On a hockey-themed night, three members of the Toronto Sceptres took part in the ceremonial first pitch with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. serving as catcher.

Fans reportedly lined up as early as 8 a.m. to get their hands on the night’s giveaway, a Vladdy hockey jersey.

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To borrow a shinny metaphor, the Jays wound up skating circles around the A’s.

Taking it all in was Pickering’s Denzel Clarke, who started in centre field for the visitors.

When his name was introduced, Clarke was accorded a warm applause.

Clarke struck out swinging in the second inning, marking his 16th strikeout in 20 plate appearances.

No one, though, will remember the punch-out. What they will remember was the catch he made in denying Alejandro Kirk a home run to lead off the fourth inning, a majestic out at the wall that highlighted Clarke’s athleticism.

Fans will also remember Clarke’s fearlessness when he came close to making a more spectacular catch in left-centre, crashing into the wall in the sixth inning.

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Clarke, 25, also managed a pair of singles, and scored two runs while picking up his first career RBI in the ninth inning.

The 25-year-old had circled this series when the schedule was released. As a youngster, he attended games at Rogers Centre.

3. Second to none

It’s been well-documented how futile the Jays have been when it comes to scoring first-inning runs.
The second, however? No problem of late.

In Thursday’s blowout, eight runs crossed home plate in the second. On Friday night, three more would score.

Oddly enough, the Jays had only two hits in the second, including Clement’s leadoff double.

What made the inning memorable were the four walks yielded by Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs.

Up next

There was no immediate word on Saturday’s starter for the Blue Jays, but eyebrows were raised with an Easton Lucas sighting … Either way, fans in attendance will get to revel in the team’s latest allure, Cricket Day at the Park, and likely see the home side put up more runs.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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