With all eyes on the Toronto Blue Jays’ youngsters auditioning for a roster spot for the 2025 season, shortstop Leo Jimenez has risen to the front of the pack recently.
His two-run homer in the fifth inning was one of five home runs as the Blue Jays (59-67) cruised to a 10-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds (61-65) in front of 34,662 at Rogers Centre on Tuesday.
George Springer hit two home runs. Alejandro Kirk and Spencer Horwitz completed the Blue Jays’ run, which saw them score their first five-homer game in a year against the same Reds.
“I worked on all aspects of my game, but especially my at-bats,” Jimenez said.
The 23-year-old admitted he was frustrated with the way some pitches were called by umpires this season and had expanded his own strike zone, leading to him swinging at bad pitches.
He has since narrowed his strike zone and started to have success at the plate again. In his last 11 games, he is hitting .281 with five doubles, three home runs and six RBIs.
“They show up to practice, they work and they get results,” Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios (12-9) said of his young teammates like Jimenez.
Berrios threw 96 pitches and struck out seven batters in seven innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks.
The Blue Jays roughed up starter Carson Spiers (4-5), who was making his 12th career start for the Reds. He gave up five homers and nine earned runs on 13 hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Springer hit a two-run homer to left field in the second inning and hit his 16th of the season, a solo shot, in the fifth.
Kirk and Horwitz hit back-to-back homers in the third with two outs.
Addison Barger came close to getting the ball out of bounds as well. His double hit the top of the right-field fence.
“It’s great, we’re having a little fun,” Jays manager John Schneider said. “It’s contagious. George’s first homer was obviously the catalyst. And Leo, Spence, Kirky, those were good swings.”
Schneider hopes the surge is a sign his young players can help his club by the end of the campaign.
“It would be nice,” he admitted. “Guys like Spence and Leo could use their power more. Especially Leo, he hits the ball with power. We’ve seen that in the last few games.”
The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the first when Will Wagner singled to set up Daulton Varsho’s triple to score.
Toronto extended its lead to 7-1 in the fourth. Varsho was hit, advanced to third on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s second single of the game and scored on an error by third baseman Noelvi Marte.
Two consecutive walks in the second came back to haunt Berrios. Marte singled to left to drive in a run.
Elly De La Cruz tripled to center field to start the sixth and scored on a grounder to the infield.
The Reds scored their third run in the eighth off reliever Zach Pop.
Former Jays catcher Luke Maile was perfect in the seventh and eighth on the mound, thanks to sliders clocked at 65 mph mixed with butterfly balls.