Things worth mentioning…

• After weeks of waiting, Vlad finally made his debut in front of a high-energy Rogers Centre. It was officially Vlad night. He got a standing ovation at every opportunity, whether it was running out a ground ball or making a routine play at third base. He hit the ball hard in his first at bat, but it was right at his family friend, Kendrys Morales. In his second at bat, Vlad smashed a ball to deep left field, but Chad Pinder made a great leaping catch at the wall to rob the Large Adult Son of his first hit. Vlad also sent one to the warning track in his third at bat. Then, finally, in the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2, Vlad ripped a ground ball down the first-base line for a double.

• Ironically enough, it would be Brandon Drury who wore the cape on Vlad night. This is perfect because Drury had been the pit of everyone’s joke as the so-so- player who occupied Vlad’s spot at third until his service time had been adequately manipulated. Drury smashed a two-run walk-off bomb to make sure Vlad night finished on a memorable note. I don’t know, but it just felt right that Drury did it.

• Lost in all of this was an incredible start from Marcus Stroman. It was a damn shame that he didn’t walk out of this one with a win (though the ‘pen blowing the lead was great because it set the table for Vlad’s ninth-inning double). Stroman twirled through seven innings of one-hit ball while collecting seven strikeouts. He now owns a 1.43 ERA for the season.