Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Kicks off Second Half With Two Home Runs

[Box Score]

The blast masters of Buffalo were at it again on Friday night to begin Major League Baseball’s second half of the year.

Indeed, other guys got in on the act. However the storyline will be that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit home runs 29 and 30 on the night and drove in four more runs. All of this goes with 77 runs batted in and a .335 average and sterling 1.111 OPS.

It seems that teams will need to strategize something more than throwing it middle/middle to Guerrero Jr., and even when they have he’s been patient, willing to take a walk, and willing to use the entire field. His second home run of the night was absolutely crushed.

All of this comes amidst a report that the Blue Jays will return to Rogers Centre July 30. I must admit: I never thought it would happen in a million years.

Somehow, the Jays have cobbled together a 46-42 record while playing their home games in two different cities. Robbie Ray has improved to 8-4 on the year with a 2.93 ERA. It seems like the Jays are going to settle in and chase a playoff berth. As long as Guerrero Jr. can keep carrying the load, they’re going to keep scoring a lot of runs.

Equally important, Marcus Semien hit his 23rd, Randall Grichuk hit his 17th, and Teoscar Hernandez hit his 12th home run of the season. Certainly this team is giving reminders of the Toronto teams of old that could hit with power up and down the lineup, anchored by Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista.