Game #35 - Toronto Blue Jays (16-19) @ Tampa Bay Rays (22-12) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr,. drove in the Blue Jays only run in a 5-1 loss to the Rays

After dropping the finale of the series yesterday due to a late rally falling short and a bad outing from reliever Brayden Fisher, the Blue Jays continued the road trip in Tampa Bay. The Rays won last year's season series 7-6, outscoring the Blue Jays 58-48. Eric Lauer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Daulton Varsho got the half day off as DH with Myles Straw in CF. Could the Blue Jays start the week with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Ryan Vilade drilled a 3-run jack to left-center; also scoring Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Yohendrick Pinago
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 4.1IP 5H 3R (all earned) 1BB 2K 61 pitches (44 for strikes)
• Nick Martinez pitching line: 5IP 5H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 71 pitches (51 for strikes)
• The Rays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 6th as Taylor Walls singled scoring Jonathan Aranda and Ben Williamson
• Bryan Baker got the last out for his 9th save of the season
• Final score: Rays 5 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Eric Lauer battled through 4 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. There's no doubt he regrets making the comment about not liking the idea of an opener pitching in front of him. He did himself no favors on that front when he gave up three runs on one swing in the 1st inning to put his team in a 3-0 hole after 1 inning. At this point, he might be asked to be the long man until Shane Bieber returns from injury, but at this point, I'd just release him because he hasn't done enough to demonstrate he can be trusted even in that lower leverage role and the Blue Jays have plenty of lefties in the bullpen at the moment anyway.
• The bullpen gave up a pair of runs, both charged to Spencer Miles, on 6 hits while walking none and striking out 3 over the last 3.2 innings. None of the relievers was able to retire every batter they faced today, but at least most of the high leverage guys, except maybe Mason Fluharty were not used today.
• Offensively, Vlad drove in the only run on the night with a clutch single in the 3rd inning. They have their opportunities with everyone but Daulton Varsho getting at least a hit, but they weren't able to get the hits with runners in scoring position. Overall, their approach at the plate hasn't been as giood as last year, chasing pitches they weren't a year ago\
• The Rays were 0-1 on ABS challenges and Jesus Sanchez successfully overturned the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-8 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid and even the series. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen

Game #35 - Toronto Blue Jays (16-18) @ Tampa Bay Rays (21-12)

 

Game #34 - Toronto Blue Jays (16-18) @ Minnesota Twins (15-20) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto hit a 2-run HR in a 4-3 loss to the Twins

After a huge comeback win over the Twins after plating 8 runs in the 8th inning, the Bklue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games, notch their 5th series win and 1st season series win of the season. Trey Yesavage got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Lenyn Sosa at 1B. Yohendrick Pinago was in LF and Jesus Sanchez was in RF. Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games, notch their 5th series win and 1st season series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Twins starter Joe Ryan left the game aftter 2 batters, walking one and striking out one on just nine pitches
• The Twins opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Victor Caratini singled scoring Trevor Larnach
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 4IP 5H 1R (earned) 3BB 6K 82 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Twins added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Luke Keaschall doubled scoring Caratini
• A batter later, Kody Clemens doubled home Keaschall 
• Two batters later, Matt Wallner doubled scoring Clemens
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the top of the 9th as Kazuma Okamoto whacked a 2-run blast to left-center and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Justin Topa got the last 3 outs for his 2nd save of the season
• Final score: Twins 4 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage battled through 4 innings, giving up a run on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 6. It's not ideal that Yesavage was only able to toss 4 innings when the Blue Jays coulds have what amounts to a bullpen game tomorrow with an inconsistent Eric Lauer either getting a traditional start or following an opener. Yesavage battled command issues and got himself into some tough jams today. He was fortunate to get out of the 3rd inning when a ball hit by Luke Keaschall bounced out of play for a ground rule double or that would have been a run against. To be fair, Yesavage is still working himself into form after coming back from an injury to start the season. It's also possible teams are starting to adjust to his stuff. 
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs, all charged to Brayden Fisher, on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 3 over the last 4 innings
• Kazuma Okamoto went deep in the 9th inning to get the Blue Jays within a run, but that's as close as they got. Daulton Varsho also had a solid day at the plate. 
• Really odd decision by John Schneider to let Tyler Heineman bat with the bases loaded in the 6th, see him fly out to end the inning on a pitch he should have taken, and then replace him in the bottom half of the inning. He might very well be DFA'd when Alejandro Kirk returns from his broken thumb injury in a few weeks. Brandon Valenzuela has simply outplayed the veteran backup catcher
• In the ouch department, it has to be concerning for the Twins that Joe Ryan pulled himself from the game after 9 pitches with soreness in his elbow. Hopefully the MRI doesn't show a torn UCL. For the Blue Jays, Jesus Sanchez blew a tire on the bases, was looked at by Blue Jays trainer Jose Minstrel but was ok to continue. The Blue Jays can ill afford to lose another player to injury, esprcially with George Springer hobbled with a very sore toe.
• The Blue Jays were 1-2 in ABS challenges and the Twins were 1-1 in ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 1-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in Tampa Bay. The Rays won the season series last year 7-6, outscoring the Blue Jays 58-48. Eric Lauer starts against Rays righty Nick Martinez

Game #34 - Toronto Blue Jays (16-17) @ Minnesota Twins (14-20)

 

Game #33 - Toronto Blue Jays (16-17) @ Minnesota Twins (14-20) - game recap-

 

Brandon Valenzuula hit a 3-run HR in an 11-4 comeback win over the Twins

After rebounding nicely from a tough loss Thursday, the Blue Jays evened the series with Kazuma Okamoto and Yohendrick Pinago driving the offense, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the winning streak to 2 games. Dylan Cease got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF. Ernie Clement was back in the lineup and at SS. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Twins opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Byron Buxton led off with a solo blast to the opposite field in right
• The Blue jays tied in the top of the 2nd as Lenyn Sosa whacked a solo blast to left-center and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Two batters later, Myles Straw belted a solo jack to the second deck in left
• The Twins retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Brooks Lee singled scoring Kody Clemens and Luke Keaschall. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was charged with a throwing error on the play.
• George Springer left the game in the top of the 3rd after fouling a ball off the toe he fractured.
• The Twins added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Trevor Larnach singled scoring Tristan Gray
• Connor Prielipp pitching line: 5IP 3H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 91 pitches (59 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 6th as Kazuma Okamoto hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 7H 4R (3 earned) 1BB 7K 106 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 8th as Okamoto singled scoring Ernie Clement
• A batter later Sosa singled scoring Guerrero Jr.
• Three batters later, Davis Schneider doubled scoring Daulton Varsho and Sosa
• A batter later, Brandon Valenzuela hammered a 3-run bomb to straightaway center; also scoring Schneider and Straw
• Final score: Blue Jays 11 Twins 4

My Take:

• Dylan Cease fired 7 solid innings, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned on 7 hits while walking  1 and striking out 7. Cease is quickly becoming a very important part of the rotation with his ability to pitch deep into games and getting extra outs. He made the pitches when he had to in order to limit the damage in the jams he encountered. He probably regrets shaking off Brandon Valenzuela first batter he faced with Byron Buxton taking him deep.
• The bullpen threw 2 perfect innings
• The offense exploded in the 8th inning for 8 runs on 5 hits, 2 walks and a fielding error from Twins reliever Anthony Banda. Davis Schneider got a huge monkey off is back with a clutch hit in the 8th, snapping an 0-26 slump. Brandon Valenzuela capped the inning off with a bomb to dead center for 3 runs. Kazuma Okamoto homered for the second straight day.
• Every starter but George Springer and Vlad had a hit. Springer was the only one who neither scored a run nor drove in a run
• Don't be surprised if Springer goes back on the IL. He needs to heal completely before he comes back.
• The Blue Jays were 2-2 in ABS challenges. Davis Schneider had his first unsuccessful challenge of the season. The Twins didn't utilize any ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 4-7 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games, and notch their 5th series win and 1st season series win of the season. Trey Yesavage starts against Twins righty Joe Ryan.