 On July 8, he enjoyed the only two home run game of his career against the Toronto Blue Jays.When starting third baseman Buddy Bell went down with a stretched ligament in his left knee on September 4, Blanks spent the rest of the season as his team's starting third baseman, batting .329 with six RBIs, however, committing three errors.In Spring training , Blanks beat out Duffy for the starting shortstop job.