Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Breaks Out with First Massive Game of MLB Career
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received some advice from his Hall of Fame father after hitting the first two home runs of his career. In return, the younger Guerrero plans on sending his father a few mementos from his historic night.
Guerrero homered twice to become the third-youngest player to hit his first two major league homers in the same game, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the San Francisco Giants 7-3 Tuesday night.
Guerrero, who finished with three hits and four RBIs, became the youngest in franchise history to go deep as the Blue Jays won the opener of a six-game trip after losing five of six on a homestand in which they totaled eight runs.
“He just said like he always told me, ‘Don’t look for home runs. They’re going to come,'” Guerrero said through a translator. “I’m going to give both balls and the bat to my dad. I’m going to keep using everything that I used today except the bat that I really want to give to my dad.”
The touted 20-year-old Guerrero homered in the first inning against Giants opener Nick Vincent (0-2), his first in 14 big league games.
His drive to straightaway center was measured at 111.3 mph and traveled an estimated 438 feet.
You’ll never forget where you were for this one!#LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/ZeuDRgHXi2
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 15, 2019
“He was talking about it during batting practice and he did it,” Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo said. “We knew that was coming. He’s that good. He could carry a team if he gets hot. He can do stuff like that.”
The Toronto slugger had a hard-hit single in the second then added an even more impressive blast in the sixth off Reyes Moronta, a three-run drive estimated at 451 feet.
HE DID IT AGAIN! #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/c0eZuyws8f
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 15, 2019
The crowd at Oracle Park let out a collective gasp as the ball sailed over the wall in left-center. Winning pitcher Trent Thornton even got caught up watching.
“I was on second base and I’m just watching it go and go, and I’m like, ‘Wait, I gotta run,'” Thornton said. “He had a great game. That was just a lot of fun.”
The only players younger than Guerrero to hit their first two home runs in the same game were Brian McCall in 1962 (19 years, 248 days) and Manny Machado in 2012 (20 years, 35 days).
Two-sport star Danny Ainge was the youngest Blue Jays player to homer, doing so on June 2, 1979, at 20 years, 77 days old. Guerrero is younger by 18 days.
Guerrero grounded out in his final at-bat. He entered the day batting .191 with one RBI.
“He wasn’t pressing,” Montoyo said. “He just plays and he has fun. He’s an even-keeled kind of kid.”
The Guerrero family already had long-ball history at Oracle Park — the elder Guerrero won the 2007 Home Run Derby at the waterfront stadium.
“This kid is going to be a great player, he really is,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “You saw the bat speed, you saw how fast the ball comes off his bat. I’ve seen his dad hit balls like that.”
Welcome to the trophy case ??
Congrats to Vlad Jr. on his first two career @MLB home runs! pic.twitter.com/1vfvVRplaF
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 15, 2019
Thornton (1-4) pitched three-hit ball into the sixth inning for his first major league win. The rookie right-hander struck out seven and overcame five walks. Thornton also singled twice to help the Blue Jays break out of their offensive funk.
Toronto got an overturned replay and added two runs in the first following Guerrero’s first home run.
#VladJr hit his first two homers at the same stadium where his dad won the 2007 Home Run Derby.
Baseball is the best. pic.twitter.com/DaaqDQKq3Q
— MLB (@MLB) May 15, 2019
Freddy Galvis hit an RBI double that fell just over the glove of charging right fielder Steven Duggar but was ruled foul by first base umpire Adrian Johnson. After Montoyo asked for a replay, a brief review was held and the call was overturned. Bill McKinney then doubled in Galvis.
Pablo Sandoval homered for San Francisco.
The Giants used an opener for the first time. Vincent allowed three runs and four hits in one inning in his second career start.
LATE MOTHER’S DAY GIFT
Thornton flew his parents in from North Carolina for the game as a belated Mother’s Day present and got his first win and first two hits since college.
“I was lucky I got all fastballs today,” Thornton said. “I just kind of closed my eyes and swung and got lucky two times.”
TRAINERS ROOM
Giants: C Buster Posey caught Drew Pomeranz’s bullpen session and could be activated off the concussion list as early as Friday. Posey’s next step will be running the bases Wednesday. … Pomeranz threw 60 pitches in his bullpen.
UP NEXT
Edwin Jackson will make history when he pitches for his 14th major league team in his Toronto debut Wednesday. A 35-year-old right-hander, Jackson was acquired by the Blue Jays from Oakland on Saturday for $30,000. He made three minor league starts for the Athletics, two at Triple-A and one at Class A. RHP Shaun Anderson makes his major league debut for San Francisco.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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