BALTIMORE — People around the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t appear too worried when right fielder Jose Bautista came into Baltimore still looking for his first hit this season.
Why the lack of worry? That’s because Bautista always has been consistent about getting on base and causing problems on offense. Last season, he banged out 158 hits and reached base in 140 of his 154 starts.
That’s why manager John Gibbons just kind of shrugged when asked about Bautista after he broke out of the slump with a 3-for-3, two-RBI effort in Friday’s 12-5 victory over the Orioles.
“He’s an aggressive hitter, but he’s got great discipline and he was chasing balls out of the zone,” Gibbons said. “But he’s the last guy you have to worry about.”
The Blue Jays bring a powerful lineup to the table every night. They finished with eight doubles and 16 hits in Friday’s victory, and Bautista was one of the leaders.
He finished with a double plus two singles and four runs scored and sparked rallies in four separate innings. That’s what Gibbons and the Blue Jays expect from Bautista.
If they can get consistent offensive production from the outfielder on a regular basis, it will make Toronto that much tougher to stop this season–and the Blue Jays already are tough to stop. Just ask the Orioles.