One game at a time: Jose Soriano delivers in Rogers Centre debut

TORONTO — José Soriano is not paying attention to the standings. His focus is much narrower: take the ball, give the Toronto Blue Jays a chance to win and move on to the next game.

That approach served him well Wednesday night in his first start at Rogers Centre as a Blue Jay. Soriano delivered six innings of one-run baseball, setting the stage for Toronto’s five-run eighth inning in a 6-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The win was Toronto’s third in as many nights against Boston and improved its record to 59-63. The Blue Jays will have an opportunity to complete the four-game sweep on Thursday.

“It was incredible,” Soriano said of pitching in front of the home crowd. “Like I said before, the fans are incredible. I came here to do my best, and I had a good result.”

Soriano allowed four hits and two walks while striking out four. He threw 63 of his 90 pitches for strikes and recorded a first-pitch strike against 14 of the 22 batters he faced.

The right-hander relied heavily on his sinker, using it more frequently than in any of his previous starts this season. Rather than following a predetermined formula, Soriano explained that his pitch selection changes according to the opponent and the way each game develops.

“It just depends on the game,” Soriano said. “Sometimes we have to use one pitch a lot, and sometimes we have to use all of the pitches. Today, we used the sinker a lot and got a good result.”

The pitch helped Soriano control contact and keep Boston from building sustained pressure. His only run allowed came in the fifth inning, when Willson Contreras hit a solo home run on a knuckle curve to tie the game at 1-1.

Soriano completed six innings for the 10th time this season and recorded his first quality start as a Blue Jay. Over his last six outings, he has produced a 2.41 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .193 batting average.

While a low-scoring game left little margin for error, Soriano said the scoreboard did not alter his approach on the mound.

“For me, it’s the same whether the score is low or high,” he said. “I just try to do my best every time I’m on the mound and help the team as much as I can. If they score more runs, it’s way better, but I pitch with the same intensity.”

Toronto eventually provided that offensive support after Soriano’s night was over. With the score still tied in the eighth inning, Kazuma Okamoto delivered the go-ahead single before Ernie Clement drew a bases-loaded walk and Myles Straw added a two-run double.

Soriano was no longer in the dugout when the rally unfolded, but he followed the inning and appreciated how the offence capitalized on its opportunity.

“I was watching the game, and it was great,” Soriano said. “We took advantage of the opportunity in that inning, and that’s why we won the game.”

Soriano has also begun developing a relationship with catcher Alejandro Kirk. That connection was evident during his Rogers Centre debut, with the two remaining aligned throughout six efficient innings.

“It gives me a lot of confidence,” Soriano said. “He’s always in the game, and we always try to be on the same page. That’s one of the most important things. If the pitcher and catcher are on the same page, we can get a lot of good results.”

The Blue Jays have won five of their last six games and 13 of their last 20, gaining ground during an important portion of their schedule. Soriano, however, does not want the team’s attention drifting towards the larger playoff picture.

“Right now, we’re not trying to think too much,” he said. “We just play one game at a time. If we start worrying about that, maybe we lose focus. Right now, the focus is playing one game at a time and making happen whatever we need to happen.”