Blue Jays win their ninth in a row by defeating host White Sox

National Post

a day ago

Eventually and inevitably, the Blue Jays will lose a game.
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Based on how they have been playing and based on the opponents they will be facing, they may not experience a defeat until after baseball's all-star break.
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The momentum built from a seven-game home stand sweep carried over into the Windy City, where the Blue Jays recorded back-to-back homers in the fifth inning en route to an 8-4 thumping of the host Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
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It was Toronto's ninth win in a row.
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Two more games against the lowly White Sox await, followed by three games in West Sacramento, Calif., against the equally woeful Athletics, whom the Jays swept at home, before the break kicks in, which has the potential to disrupt the surge this team has generated.
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When all is said and done, the Jays have a realistic chance to establish a franchise record for consecutive wins in a season.
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The high-water mark is 11.
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The following are three takeaways on a night when the Blue Jays hit three home runs, while scoring four runs in the sixth inning before an out was recorded.
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1. Berrios in cruise control
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In his 19th start of the season, Jose Berrios faced the White Sox for the second time.
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When he first faced Chicago in Toronto a fortnight ago, the veteran right-hander earned the win. That day, Berrios gave up two hits and one run in 7.2 innings.
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On Monday, he gave up his first run in the home half of the second inning.
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Had Vladimir Guerrero Jr. been able to handle a sharply hit ball at first base, Chicago would not have scored.
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Guerrero did make amends by drawing a leadoff walk in the fourth, stole second base and came around to score the tying run.
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Berrios pitched with the lead after Joey Loperfido went deep on a solo shot, one day after he knocked in a run after being called up from Buffalo for the first time this season. Loperfido added a two-run single in the sixth inning
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Through five innings, Berrios had given up two hits, both singles.
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When he started the sixth inning, Berrios had all kinds of room for error.
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No need to have Berrios on the mound to start the seventh, or so it appeared, with the game firmly in control, paving the way for RHP Robinson Pina to make his Blue Jays debut.
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He gave up two runs in the inning and had two runners on base in the eighth, forcing the Jays to have Nick Sandlin warm up in the bullpen.
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A one-out base hit scored Chicago's fourth run, prompting the Jays to summon Sandlin.
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2. Taking the lead
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Hard to argue with anything the Jays have done or question any decision the club has made amid so many games being won and the club ascending to first in the AL East.