2 games, 2 HRs: Bo rakes in DH split at NY

If not for Alek Manoah and his electric Major League debut in Game 1, Bo Bichette might have been the center of attention after his performance for the Blue Jays in Thursday’s seven-inning doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

Though Toronto fell, 5-3, in the nightcap, Bichette launched a key home run in each game of the twin bill, becoming the second-youngest player in Blue Jays history to homer in both ends of a doubleheader at 23 years and 83 days old. Only Shawn Green (22 years, 298 days old) was younger when he accomplished the feat on Sept. 4, 1995, against the Royals.

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“The funny thing about [Bichette] is that he’s not locked in yet,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “And he’s still doing well -- that’s how good he is, how good he’s going to be. So whenever he gets locked in, you’re going to see that even more.”

Bichette went back to back with Marcus Semien in Game 1, with those solo homers providing all the offense in Toronto’s 2-0 win. Bichette's second act was a go-ahead three-run homer in the third inning of Game 2, which he smacked 414 feet, per Statcast, into the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left-center field.

The pair of home runs -- Nos. 10 and 11 of the season for Bichette -- has him behind only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (16) and Semien (13). That’s good company for Bichette to be in, as Guerrero and Semien rank among the top five in the American League in homers.

Bichette now has 27 homers in 124 career games. The Blue Jays record for most home runs through 125 games belongs to teammate Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who hit 28 in that span to begin his career.

Bichette also impressed on defense, throwing out a runner at home plate twice in Game 2. In the first, he helped settle starter Robbie Ray by nabbing Aaron Judge at the plate on a relay play on a one-out double by Gio Urshela. Bichette corralled a throw from Gurriel in left, then executed an on-the-money throw to catcher Danny Jansen. That provided a crucial second out, allowing Ray to keep it a one-run game when he struck out Clint Frazier swinging to end the inning.

Bichette did it again in the sixth on a nearly identical play. This time, his throw arrived to Jansen when Gary Sánchez was still halfway up the third-base line, easily nabbing him for the final out of the inning.

“To be a winning team, you need a good shortstop,” Montoyo said. “So after the first few weeks when he struggled a little bit, after that, he’s done an outstanding job defensively. And that’s one of the reasons we’ve played so well, Bo Bichette’s play at shortstop.”

The Blue Jays took the three-game series, handing the Yankees their first series loss since they were swept by the Rays from April 16-18. Toronto knows the feeling, as it arrived in New York after getting swept in four games by Tampa Bay. But the Blue Jays' ability to turn the tide in a hostile environment at Yankee Stadium is what resonated with Montoyo.

“Our team deserves a lot of credit,” Montoyo said. “After going what we went through against the Rays, to come here and take two of three, it was huge. So a great job by our team to stay even-keeled.

“It’s great because they’re one of the best teams in baseball. And for us to compete, you have to compete against the best teams. … We’re playing good baseball. It means a lot.”

Bichette is doing his part to ensure the Blue Jays remain on that upward trajectory amid a competitive race in the American League East. While he has yet to unlock the offensive side of his game at the level of the previous two years -- he’s slashing .272/.318/.495 in 49 games -- he leads the Majors with 41 runs scored.

And more importantly, Bichette looks like a player on the cusp of a breakthrough.

“Man, the sky’s the limit with that kid,” Montoyo said. “He’s going to get hot pretty soon, and his numbers are going to be even better. So I’m not surprised what he did today, because that’s coming.”