Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie (13) hits a home run in the 7th inning against the Kansas City Royals at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Royals 4-3.Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE
Adam Lind's dog was bolting around the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse following their game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
Brett Lawrie was doing much the same thing earlier out on the turf at Rogers Centre where he delivered a couple of key blows, including the game winning home run that lifted the Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory.
The third baseman also contributed a run-scoring triple in the fourth that put the team in front 3-2.
It was yet another impressive power performance by the native of Langley, B.C., who has now stroked four home runs since he was promoted to the Major Leagues on Aug. 5.
Of his 20 hits this season, 10 have gone for extra bases.
"He's fun to watch," said an admiring Ricky Romero, the Blue Jays starting pitcher who struggled to survive six innings against a tough hitting Kansas City outfit. "I'm glad he's on our team."
With the score knotted at 3-3, Lawrie stepped into the batter's box leading off the seventh to face Louis Coleman, a tough right-hander with a funky sidearm delivery.
He then proceeded to powder a 2-2 offering over the wall in left field that provided Toronto with its margin of victory.
"To hit a decisive home run is obviously exciting," Toronto manager John Farrell said. "The triple into left-centre field, not many guys are going to look to stretch a double into a triple, particularly to the pull side of the field.
"But again, I jut think it shows the explosiveness that he has."
Jose Bautista also slugged a two-run home run for Toronto in the fourth, his Major League leading 37th of the season.
Lawrie said he was just hoping to put a good swing on the home run ball.
"He [Coleman]came out of the pen, started me off with a good slider," he said. "I was fortunate enough to get a pitch I was able to drive and he hung it and home run.
"It was cool."
The win was picked up by Jesse Litsch, who came on in relief in the seventh inning and allowed a double by Billy Butler before retiring the next three batters.
Romero, who was denied the opportunity to win for the sixth consecutive outing, was not as sharp as he has been, getting touched up for three runs off eight hits by the Royals.
Six of those hits came with two strikes.
"It wasn't my best performance out there," Romero admitted. "Those guys [the Royals]battled. They hit everything that I kind of left over the plate."