After a monstrous first half to the season and an MVP performance at Tuesday night's All-Star Game in Denver, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was asked a simple question on a video call Friday afternoon: What do you want to accomplish in the second half?
"I'm just going to stay focused and just keep doing what I was doing the first half," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "Working hard and trying to get more hits, produce more runs for my team. Basically I'm just going to start doing what I was doing the first half and I think we're going to be OK with that."
Guess so. Talk about an understatement.
Just after learning they would return home to Rogers Centre on July 30, the Blue Jays took the field and put on more All-Star performances. It was like a mini home run derby.
The Blue Jays got their long-awaited approval to return to Rogers Centre early Friday night. They are scheduled to start the Toronto portion of their schedule with a July 30 game against the Kansas City Royals.
Guerrero went deep in his first at-bat and then added No. 30 of his wondrous season – a monstrous three-run shot that carried to Oak Street in the sixth – as the Blue Jays pounded the Texas Rangers 10-2 in the opener of a three-game series.
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The victory before a season-high crowd of 10,100 came in the immediate aftermath of the Blue Jays learning the news that they have been approved to return to Rogers Centre starting July 30.
"I was smiling this big. I was really happy. Going into this game, it was like having big momentum," said manager Charlie Montoyo. "Everybody was smiling and happy. The coaches were happy. It was great news. I don't want to forget about how great Buffalo has been to us here. The job they did here to make it closer to a big-league ballpark. And the Buffalo people, the stands are full. Buffalo has been great.
"But of course, we're the Toronto Blue Jays so it will be great to go home and show this team to the whole nation."
The offensive onslaught made for a difficult homecoming for Texas catcher and Amherst native Jonah Heim, who went 1 for 4 in his first game ever in the downtown ballpark. Heim collected a looping single to right-center in the seventh, prompting a standing ovation from a good portion of the crowd. A smiling Heim pointed to his family and friends behind first base and waved to acknowledge the crowd's cheers.
Jonah Heim of the Texas Rangers gives advice to local baseball players while in town to take on the Toronto Blue Jays.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Heim is the first Buffalo native to play in a Major League game here since outfielder John Gillespie played for the Bisons – on Oct. 1, 1890.
"For him to come here and actually be able to play a big-league game where a big-league team doesn't even play is pretty special," said Texas manager Chris Woodward. "For the crowd to acknowledge that, it was a cool moment."
Guerrero became the first Blue Jays player to win an All-Star MVP and did it on the strength of his 468-foot homer to left in Coors Field.Â
"It meant a lot not only for Vladdy but also for the Toronto Blue Jays," Montoyo said. "He's playing for a nation and everybody was talking about the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladdy. I was really happy that everybody got to see what we see every day. It was great."
The story of Jonah Heim – who has never played in Sahlen Field – has been well-documented, but the perseverance bears repeating.
Guerrero picked up right where he left off Friday, driving a Jordan Lyles pitch just over the wall in left-center with two out in the first. Fellow All-Stars Marcus Semien and Teoscar Hernandez both went deep in the third and Randal Grichuk followed Hernandez by going back to back to put the Blue Jays up 5-0 and end any suspense.
Guerrero got the crowd roaring in the sixth with his bomb off Dennis Santana. It soared deep into the night and its kangaroo hop across the street was visible to reporters in the temporary press box at the top of the ballpark's 100 level.
That was plenty for left-hander Robbie Ray, who allowed only three hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings -- and became the first player in franchise history to start and win consecutive games. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Sunday's 5-1 win at Tampa Bay.
The teams meet again Saturday at 3.Â
