Jays come up big late to upend Sox

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The mania and hysteria surrounding Alek Manoah no longer pulsates, replaced by the actual pitching performance.

Ultimately, what the kid does on the mound will dictate how long Manoah remains in the rotation.

Wednesday night against the host Chicago White Sox, Manoah made his third start, good in his debut and not-so-good in his second.

Against the White Sox, he was average, but credit Manoah for competing on a night he didn’t have his best stuff.

Manoah went five innings, leaving the game with the Jays trailing 2-1.

The Jays would end up winning the game, 6-2, fuelled by a three-run eighth when a wild pitch following a strike out, a bases loaded walk and two throwing errors all played a role.

Normally it’s the Jays’ bullpen that comes up short.

This time, it was Chicago’s pen, which spoiled a brilliant outing by starter Lance Lynn.

The White Sox basically gift-wrapped the three runs the Jays would score late.

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Rowdy Tellez drove in Toronto’s fifth run with an RBI single to right in the ninth.

The Keystone Sox allowed Tellez to score on Chicago’s fourth error of the night.

Chicago took a 2-1 lead when Manoah yielded a leadoff walk in the fifth.

He was aided by an outfield assist recorded by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., his eighth of the season, to preserve a run.

Randal Grichuk homered in the second to tie the game, 1-1.

Grichuk was the only Jays hitter to get to Lynn.

Lynn went seven innings, retiring the final 10 hitters in a row.

Good news emerged when Tyler Chatwood, who has been downright inept of late, retired the bottom third of Chicago’s order in the seventh.

He came in relief of Anthony Castro, who also pitched well.

Then came the bad when Jordan Romano couldn’t find the strike zone to begin the eighth.

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He managed to survive unscathed by stranding a runner at third.

Romano was forced to throw 21 pitches to get out of the inning.

Tim Mayza pitched the ninth inning.

He began with a leadoff walk.

Hyun Jin Ryu will start Thursday as the Jays look to take the three-game series.

SWING AND A MISS

Teoscar Hernandez went 0-for-4, including three strikeouts, Tuesday.

He struck out swinging in his first at-bat Wednesday to end the first inning by leaving Bo Bichette stranded at second.

Bichette got on base with a one-out single and advanced to second on a throwing error to first by Lynn, the eighth error charged to a Sox pitcher this season.

A fielding error to Vlad Jr. on a throw by Manoah and a passed ball put Jake Lamb at second with one out.

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Chicago scored the game’s first run one batter later when Yoan Moncada hit an RBI single to left to plate Lamb.

LIFE OF RILEY

Riley Adams made his debut Tuesday, looking quite comfortable behind the plate.

He was told late in the day he’d be playing.

“It helped me not overthink things,” he said during a Zoom call prior to Wednesday night’s game, the second of a three-game series at Chicago’s Guaranteed Rate Field. “There were some parts that sped up.”

Camera crews caught members of Adams’ family in the stands revelling in the moment.

What stood out was the array of jerseys depicting each stop in Adams’ journey.

“I had no idea about the jerseys,” said Adams. “They just showed up. I was looking for some Blue Jays stuff. They were rocking the old stuff.

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“It was pretty cool to see. Obviously I have a few jerseys from the past.”

Adams said he called his family, girlfriend and agent when notified of his call up, telling each he’d be arranging for tickets.

In the heat of the battle, Adams’ focus was on the game.

Following the game, Adams was congratulated by teammates and coaches.

The ball commemorating his first hit, a double, was retrieved and given to Adams.

“I’m sure I’ll give it back to my family and let them take it home and put it in a good spot,” added Adams.

Adams came to the plate Wednesday night with one out in the eighth inning to pinch hit for Reese McGuire.

Adams struck out swinging, but reached first on a wild pitch charged to Aaron Bummer.

Adams scored the tying run.

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MONTOYO MUSINGS

George Springer continues to be with the team as he readies for a rehab assignment, one of many topics broached by manager Charlie Montoyo.

“He’s doing well,” said Montoyo. “His rehab assignment is not too far away. I don’t want to speculate on the date, but he’s doing well.”

Montoyo spoke with Cavan Biggio, who has played in three minor league games as he makes his way back from a neck injury.

According to Montoyo, Biggio has yet to have a ball hit to him at third base.

Alejandro Kirk was scheduled to DH Wednesday in an extended training game as the catcher recovers from a hip flexor strain.

K CLUB

Robbie Ray joined an exclusive club iby becoming only the second pitcher in Jays history to strike out 13 and issue zero walks.

Only Roger Clemens has done it and the former Cy Young winner did it four times in a Toronto jersey.

Ray’s 13 Ks in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the Sox were the most he’s recorded since he mowed down 14 hitters four years ago.

The most recent Toronto pitcher to total 13 Ks was Marcus Stroman, who recorded the feat in 2016.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com