Leading man Davis Schneider helps Blue Jays offence build momentum

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As the Blue Jays show signs of life — with a big assist to the woeful, non-competitive Chicago White Sox — they will gladly take offensive output from any place in the lineup.

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And the fact that it’s coming from opposite ends of manager John Schneider’s order makes it all the more effective.

In taking care of business on Chicago’s south side with an easy 7-2 rain-delayed win on Tuesday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, Davis Schneider cemented his hold on the leadoff spot, while No. 8 hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa continued his recent hot run.

For an offence desperate to get hot and stay there, contributions from anywhere aren’t just welcomed, but required.

First to Schneider, who for a second year running is having a significant impact on the Jays attack when it’s needed most. Schneider doubled in both the first and second innings on Tuesday, a sizzling follow-up to his final at-bat on Monday, a two-run homer in a 5-1 win. That two-bagger drove in a pair of runs to give the Jays a 3-0 lead that basically felt insurmountable for a team like the White Sox. It was just the kind of start the struggling Jays needed.

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Schneider has been on fire on occasion this season, showing himself to be undaunted by whatever pressures have afflicted his teammates. More importantly, his poise and willingness and ability to work a count is showing veteran savvy. Six of Schneider’s eight doubles, for example, have come with runners on base, counting 24 RBI in those situations with a man on.

Schneider brought in another run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, giving the Jays an add-on run that has been all too rare for the team this season.

And for good measure, a one-out single in the eighth led to a run scored for Schneider, who hustled home from second on a base hit from Bo Bichette to bump the lead to 5-1. Bottom line for the Babe in five plate appearances on the night: 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three RBI and a run scored.

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Kiner-Falefa, meanwhile, got things started with an RBI double two batters prior to Schneider’s blast, extending his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. Kiner-Falefa has been noticeably productive during the recent run, with three doubles, a triple and a pair of homers.

The offence won’t be taken totally seriously until the big bats start booming with regularity and until Jays hitters as a whole have success against teams more competitive than the sad-sack Sox, who at 15-41 are the worst team in the majors.

But with Schneider leading the way, the Jays are starting to gather momentum at the plate, anyway, scoring 23 runs in their past three contests.

ROAD WARRIORS?

By virtue of losing three of four in Detroit on the weekend, the seven-game road trip against two meek opponents will not be considered a resounding success no matter what happens on Wednesday.

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But alas, by taking the first two against the White Sox, the Jays have an opportunity for their first series sweep of the season when Alek Manoah takes the mound for the finale.

Baby steps it is as the Jays are now 6-9-3 overall in series with another potentially weak foe up next, with the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Rogers Centre for the first of three on Friday.

As for that sweep, as crazy as it sounds for a series in the final week of May, it sure feels imperative that the Jays take care of business against a reeling White Sox squad that has now dropped seven in a row, three of those against the Jays.

No one will (or should) get carried away with a modest two-game winning streak, but a hot run has to start somewhere. And in improving to 25-29, the Jays could inch back toward .500 if they take advantage of the opponents that await over the next four.

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AROUND THE BASES

Before Davis Schneider had his chance for that leadoff double, the teams had to wait through a 40-minute rain delay … And then for pure silliness, the skies opened after the top of the ninth, leading to another 68-minute delay before lefty Tim Mayza came in to finish it off with a 1-2-3 frame … The Jays matched a dubious bit of club history on Tuesday when once again they didn’t manage to score in the first inning, running that streak to 20 consecutive games. The only other time that happened was back in 1977 …. Manager John Schneider didn’t waste any time getting Chad Green into action after he was activated from the injury list prior to Tuesday’s game. In his first big-league work since April 15, Green allowed just a hit in a scoreless seventh … To make room for Green, the team optioned Erik Swanson to triple-A Buffalo, a move manager Schneider told reporters in Chicago was entirely “performance-based.” … So far, hitting out of the seven-hole has been a comfortable landing spot for struggling George Springer, who had two singles and three walks in Tuesday’s laugher on the South Side … It wasn’t the 10-strikeout performance he unleashed in Detroit in his most recent start, but Kevin Gausman gave the Jays six solid innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out three … The Jays have now recorded wins in five of the past six Gausman starts.

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