Blue Jays manager keeping the faith, says AL East race not yet over

TORONTO — Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is keeping the faith during the stretch drive, even when it comes to catching the surging Boston Red Sox for the AL East pennant.

Asked if the race for first place was over, Gibbons said: “No, I don’t think so.”

“It’s going to be tough, that’s for sure,” he continued. “Boston’s on fire, since they left here really. Back-to-back sweeps (against the Yankees and Baltimore).

“You’ve got to approach each game, try to win that game. There’s 10 left. We’re in a good spot. But it’s not going to be easy.”

Gibbons’ optimism Friday came prior to opening a four-game series against the visiting New York Yankees.

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The Jays went into the game 5.5 games behind Boston, whom they meet in a three-game series to close out the regular season. The Red Sox magic number to clinch the pennant was five after their eighth straight win Thursday.

“Ideally we’d love a shot to go into those final three games (in Boston),” said Gibbons, whose team had gone 7-12 in September. “If it was riding on that, we could still win the division. But really you’ve just got to try to win tonight. That’s what it comes down to.”

“We’ve been waiting on that nice run,” he added. “It’s be the perfect time for it.”

The Jays plays visiting Baltimore three times between the Yankees and Red Sox series.

Boston was 15-5 in September prior to Friday’s road game against Tampa Bay.

Toronto and Detroit occupied the AL wild card spots going into play Friday. Should that turn into the Jays’ ticket into the post-season, Gibbons said home-field advantage would be a definite plus, given the support at the Rogers Centre.

“I think any time you play at home it’s big,” he said. “Especially since we’ve got a different type of crowd now. They’re into it. And that last at-bat’s always nice. But the most important thing is getting in (the playoffs).”

Toronto has averaged 41,456 at home this season, fourth-best in the majors. 

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press