in right-centre field," Farrell said. "I thought when Jo-Jo failed to cover first base, the extra out allowed them to plate two more runs in the inning."

Third base, though, wasn't a problem and it didn't have a negative effect on Bautista at the plate. In the fourth he slammed his 24th homer of the season, a two-run shot to left.

Bautista at third was exactly how the Jays were supposed to open up the season and the slugger, who prefers to play right field, said back then what he is saying now -- that he will do what is best for the team.

But that was before the Jays discovered during spring training that Juan Rivera had lost a lot of range and would be a trouble spot defensively inright.

So Bautista went to right, Edwin Encarnacion went from DH back to third and Rivera became the DH. That's how the Jays opened up.

Third base then became the black hole as Encarnacion proved to be a defensive liability while at the plate Jayson Nix and John McDonald have proved lacking at a position that is traditionally a spot for someone with offensive capabilities.

Canada's Brett Lawrie was supposed to fill the void at third but that plan was scrubbed when Lawrie suffered a broken bone in the back of his left hand when hit by a pitch while playing at triple-A Las Vegas. He is still out and may not make it to the Jays until August or later necessitating the move by Bautista.

The tradeoff -- an outfield of