Dominant Manoah isn't enough

Pitcher looks like old self versus Twins, but Jays look like they’re in deep trouble

- GREGOR CHISHOLM

Jays starter Alek Manoah walked just one batter and struck out six while throwing 55 of 78 pitches for strikes on Sunday.

The Blue Jays have spent the first six-plus weeks of the regular season looking for a spark. A moment that would shake the lineup out of a slump that seems to have lasted for more than a year.

There had been hope that Saturday’s dramatic come-from-behind victory against the Minnesota Twins would turn out to be that game — the TSN Turning Point of not just the homestand but perhaps the entire first half. Well, it didn’t happen.

One day after breaking out with a season-high 16 hits and 10 runs, the Jays offence returned to its mediocre ways with just two hits, spoiling a strong outing from the suddenly resurgent Alek Manoah in a 5-1 loss to Minnesota at the Rogers Centre on Sunday afternoon.

“Every day is different,” Jays manager John Schneider said after his team dropped to 4-9 in series finales. “Pretty deceptive fastball from (Twins starter Bailey) Ober. We hit some balls hard, but we didn’t really get much traffic going. You hope to have a little bit of carry-over. Today, you didn’t.”