Clement does it all, Okamoto stays sharp for surging Blue Jays

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays aren’t out of the storm just yet, but the clouds are beginning to clear.

One day after Trey Yesavage returned and led the Blue Jays to a win, it was George Springer’s turn to bounce back from the IL. The Blue Jays’ 8-1 win moved them to 14-16 and marked their third series win in a row.

This is what mattered most from the win:

1. A man of many talents

What can’t Ernie Clement do? Just minutes after delivering the defensive play of the game, Clement launched his first home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth.

Clement has been filling up the left-field corner with doubles this season, tying him for the MLB lead with 13, but he soared this one just beyond his usual landing spot. Now batting .301, Clement has been crucial to the Blue Jays’ lineup in the absence of Springer. Clement often served as the leadoff hitter, but with Springer back, he’ll be able to lengthen this lineup from lower down.

Clement’s defensive play in the top of the inning captured just how complete of a ballplayer he is, too. On a looping one-hopper up the middle from Andruw Monasterio, Clement raced over from second base, fielded the ball, leapt into the air and made a throw back across his body in time to get the runner. This play would have been impressive at any speed, but Clement was moving.

It was just pure, natural athleticism from Clement, who’s probably the best golfer and hockey player in the clubhouse, too, on top of a few other sports. Earlier in the day, Clement joined MLB Central, where his scouting report of himself as a hockey player was less glowing.

“I think they’ve kind of blown it out of proportion. I wasn’t that good,” Clement said. “I didn’t back-check. I didn’t do anything defensively. I just cherry-picked and tried to put the puck in the net. I was a pretty selfish player.”

2. CLEANUP MAN?: Kazuma Okamoto

For the second game in a row, Okamoto opened the scoring with a two-run single in the bottom of the third. This one was a rocket to left field with the bases loaded -- 108.2 mph off the bat -- and yet another sign that the Japanese star is turning the corner.

In Okamoto’s past 10 games, he’s hit three home runs and driven in 10 runs. The Blue Jays know there will still be growing pains as Okamoto adjusts to the big leagues, but if he is still hitting for power while he settles in, this entire process gets easier to manage. The Blue Jays don’t need Okamoto to bat .300, but when he’s making contact, the ball needs to go somewhere.

“If he can continue to do what he’s doing and progress a little bit, that’s what we’re looking for,” manager John Schneider said. “He continues to make strides. He kind of has a knack for driving in some runs here early. That would be huge.”

Springer’s return will bring change atop the lineup, and the eventual returns of Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk will beef up the heart of the order, but Okamoto is making one heck of a case lately to be Toronto’s cleanup man.

3. LAUER HOUR: What’s next?

Eric Lauer tends to have a different job each week. He was stretched out as a starter in camp, which felt like it was clearly headed toward Lauer reverting to a bullpen role, but with so many injuries around the staff, Lauer opened the season in the rotation. He recently lost that job when Yesavage returned, but just a couple of days later, Max Scherzer was placed on the IL and Lauer got Wednesday’s start.

Lauer allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings and was saved from a bases-loaded jam by reliever Braydon Fisher inducing a slick double play. By next week, Lauer could be asked to start the series opener against the Rays or be asked to step aside for another return -- this time, José Berríos.

Lauer has been outspoken about his desire to start -- ideally without following an opener -- but his greatest value to this team comes as a swingman.

"I know José is close to coming back, so I think the biggest point for me is to just make sure I’m throwing quality innings whenever I’m in there," Lauer said. "Like I’ve said the whole time, I like starting more, so you’ve got to put up the innings when you start. I think we have a lot of good, hard decisions to make, and I think that’s a good thing."