Pillar does it again: Hits wall to make catch

CLEVELAND -- On Thursday night, Kevin Pillar got to know the centre-field wall at Progressive Field.

He must have suspected the left-field wall was getting jealous.

Pillar spread the love with yet another leaping, crashing, highlight-reel grab in the fourth inning of Friday's 9-4 loss at Cleveland.

Jason Kipnis struck a line drive to the gap in left-centre with the speedy Michael Bourn on first base and no outs. Pillar, in his first season as an everyday player, got a good jump, ranged to his right and saved a run before slamming into the wall.

"The reports we all had in the Minor Leagues is that this kid can flat-out play," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Now, the big difference is that he's out there every day. He wasn't the last couple years, he was playing a platoon role and facing lefties and there aren't many lefties. Now he's playing every day and he's settled in. He's been tremendous."

Pillar is second among all Major League outfielders with seven defensive runs saved already this season. He trailed only Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain before Friday night's game, though this latest catch could change that.

In addition to saving runs with the glove, Pillar also drove some in at the plate. In the previous inning, his two-run triple to right-centre scored Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, giving the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead at the time.

Video: TOR@CLE: Pillar hits a two-run triple to right-center

Pillar finished 2-for-4 with a triple, a stolen base, and two RBIs.

"He's playing good, he really is," Gibbons said. "He's confident. And he's using the middle of the field, too. He's staying on that pitch away, staying on some breaking balls. He's played great."