Kikuchi gets no relief as porous pen blows win for splendid Jays lefty

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In the hours leading up to Friday’s first pitch of the series opener against the host Washington Nationals, a couple of developments underscored the gravity of the Blue Jays’ plight.

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There was manager John Schneider, whose words are always measured, sounding more urgent knowing his team brought a 15-17 record into the weekend set at Nationals Park.

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“The time is now,” the skipper told the assembled media during his normal pre-game availability.

“The time is not: ‘It’s going to happen.’ The time is now.”

There was baseball insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic opining the Blue Jays loom as a potential seller at the July 30 trade deadline.

The season is early, acknowledged Rosenthal, who also noted there hasn’t been much chatter of any impending moves.

“The team that I’m really watching closely is Toronto because they seem to be reaching a crossroads,” Rosenthal said on the Foul Territory podcast.

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“At some point, this team either needs to play better or needs to make some hard decisions on the players that they have.”

It all makes sense and logical knowing Rogers Communications, owners of the Blue Jays, have not been shy in forking over big bucks, whether it involves roster construction or the actual construction at a renovated Rogers Centre.

Under this backdrop, the Jays needed to bounce back from a 2-4 homestand that saw them lose consecutive series to the L.A. Dodgers and Kansas City Royals, who took three of four at Kauffman Stadium and five of seven overall against Toronto during a roughly 10-day span.

Yusei Kikuchi, who is on an expiring contract, started for the Blue Jays in Washington.

He was denied a win when the bullpen blew it, wasting a quality outing as the Nationals came back from an early 3-0 deficit to beat the Blue Jays, 9-3.

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Toronto scored all its runs in the second inning.

Some early-inning opportunities would get created, but the team’s beleaguered bats failed to produce.

Through three innings, Kikuchi had thrown 50 pitches, including 33 for strikes.

While not at his sharpest nor at his best, the lefty gave up one run on five hits through the game’s first three innings, while striking out only one.

He quickly turned up the heat.

Kikuchi reared back in the fourth by striking out the side as he began to flex his pitching prowess.

He recorded his fourth strikeout in a row when Trey Lipscomb struck out swinging to lead off the fifth for the Nationals.

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Jesse Winker became the fifth victim in succession when the right-fielder struck out swinging.

A sixth successive strikeout would not be achieved, but Kikuchi did retire the side in order.

Another strikeout would be recorded in the sixth inning, Kikuchi’s seventh of the night.

Keibert Ruiz’s two-out single was Washington’s first hit off Kikuchi since the third inning.

He was forced out at second when Kikuchi induced a grounder.

It marked Kikuchi’s 100th pitch of the game and his last.

Once he found his groove, Kikuchi was splendid.

Off in the background, the second-guessing could be heard.

Once Kikuchi left, the Jays suddenly fell behind when Erik Swanson began his relief outing with a lead-off walk before he surrendered a three-run home run.

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To rub salt into the wound, Tim Mayza then allowed a run in relief of Swanson.

The game had officially turned in what would become a rout and an utter embarrassment.

Washington loaded the bases with one out in the home half of the eighth with Genesis Cabrera on the mound.

Two more runs would cross home plate following an error by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

The hits kept coming as did the runs with the Nationals piling it on, scoring a combined eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Kikuchi was very good, the team’s relievers very bad and the offence, outside of one inning, was once again offensive.

The time is now to consider the real possibility that this season is slipping away 33 games into a 162-game season.

SUNDAY SURPRISE

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The Blue Jays insist they’ll make the call on Sunday’s starter in the next 24 hours, which isn’t exactly earth-shattering given they have yet to announce a starter knowing Kevin Gausman will be on the bump Saturday.

In other words, they weren’t tipping their hand in the hours leading up to Friday night’s first pitch or they simply did not know what course of action is ideal.

What is known is that Alek Manoah remains an option as his 30-day rehab stint expires Monday.

The big righty hasn’t been on a big-league mound since last season when he started against Cleveland on Aug. 10.

He was scheduled to throw a side session Friday in Indianapolis for the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons.

Manoah will pitch Sunday, but the location has not been revealed.

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A decision, say the Blue Jays, will be made Saturday.

When he did pitch for the big-league club last season, Manoah went 3-9, which included a stretch that saw Manoah lose seven decisions in a row.

MOVING DAY

No surprise to hear the news announced by the Blue Jays that Addison Barger had been optioned to Triple-A.

The kid was called up in Kansas City where he made his debut in left field, a position Barger had never played at the pro level, but was thrown into the fire following a hip flexor injury to Kevin Kiermaier.

Barger has a big arm and a sweet swing, but he clearly needs refinement.

He recorded his first big-league hit in the series opener against the Royals when K.C. visited Toronto.

During his five-game exposure to the big leagues, Barger struck out six times, including twice Wednesday in a 6-1 loss to the Royals, in 18 combined at-bats.

With Barger being optioned to Triple-A, the Jays recalled Nathan Lukes, who was active for Friday night’s game.

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