Blue Jays Crush Giants 10-0, Guerrero Jr. Claims Back Power with 5th Homer
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By Doug Hirdle
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- Proof-checked
Summary:
- The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the San Francisco Giants in a clean 10-0 game.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first home run since June 18, ending a long power drought.
- Despite his offensive struggles, Guerrero remains an All Star and continues to be an important piece of the Blue Jays’ future.
The Toronto Blue Jays finally received the much-anticipated encouraging sign they have been waiting for from one of their biggest star players.
On Wedneday, July 8, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. put an end to his long home run drought in a convincing 10-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants who beat them earlier this week.
5th Homer This Season
Guerrero managed to launch a solo shot during the ninth inning, ending his long stretch without a home run that started on June 18. He marked his fifth homer of the season, a disappointingly low total for a player considered one of the sports’ most feared hitters.
While the game was already well in hand, the blast gave Guerrero and the Blue Jays something extra to celebrate. Toronto has been waiting for its franchise first baseman to regain the form that has made him one of the game’s elite offensive players.
The 27-year-old entered the season with high expectations after signing a massive 14 year, $500 million contract. Instead, he has struggled to produce at his usual level.
Throughout the current year, Guerrero is batting .262 with five home runs and 37 runs batted in, numbers that fall well below the standard he has set throughout his career.
His current campaign stands in sharp contrast to his outstanding 2021 season, when he hit .311 with 48 home runs and 111 RBIs while finishing second in American League Most Valuable Player voting.
He Can Deliver
Even with his difficult regular season, Guerrero has already shown he can deliver when the stakes are highest. During last year’s postseason, he was one of Toronto’s driving forces, batting .397 with eight home runs and 15 RBIs across 18 playoff games.
His outstanding performance earned him American League Championship Series MVP honors and helped reinforce his reputation as a player who thrives under pressure.
Earlier this week, Guerrero was selected to his sixth All Star Game. However, he chose to skip the event to give his back injury additional time to heal after it caused him to miss several games during the first half of the season.
Toronto hopes Wednesday’s home run is the beginning of a turnaround for its star slugger. The Blue Jays currently hold a 44-49 record and sit third in the American League East, trailing the division leading Tampa Bay Rays by 11.5 games.
If Guerrero can rediscover his power in the second half, Toronto could still make a push to climb back into the 2026 MLB playoff race.
Doug Hirdle
Author
betting.ca
