Game #7- Toronto Blue Jays (4-3) @ Chicago White Sox (2-5) - game recap

 

Andres Gimenez hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the White Sox came from behind to walk-off the Blue Jays in 10 innings

After a rainout pushed back the opening road game to good Friday, the Blue Jays were looking to open the Easter long weekend with a win. The White Sox and Blue Jays split the season series last year with the Blue Jays outscoring the White Sox 25-19. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF, Daulton Varsho was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF. Could the Blue Jays start the Easter long weekend with a win? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a fielding error by Dylan Cease on a ball hit by Miguel Vargas that scored Chase Meidroth
• Grant Taylor pitching line: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K 9 pitches (all strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 2nd as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Addison Barger
• The White Sox retook the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Austin Hays singled scoring Vargas and Colson Montgomery
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 4.1IP 5H 3R (2 earned) 3BB 6K 93 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 8th as Andres Gimenez whacked a 2-run blast off the right foul pole; also scoring Ernie Clement
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 10th on a throwing error by Vargas on a ball hit by George Springer that scored Davis Schneider
• Alejandro Kirk left the game in the bottom of the 10th after hurting his thumb on a foul tip off the thumb side of his glove
• A batter later, the White Sox tied the game on a throwing error by Tyler Heineman on a ball hit by Derek Hill that scored Derek Hill that scored Vargas
• A batter after that, Tristan Peters singled home Hill\
• Final score: White Sox 5 Blue Jays 4 (10 innings)

   My Take:

• Dylan Cease battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 6. He was battling in and out of jams all day. It was suggested online that windy conditions may have affected the slickness of the ball. Two problems with that theory. First, Cease was a White Sox starter for 5 seasons and did pretty well. Second, the White Sox were playing under the same conditions with the same ball and held the Blue Jays to 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk.
• The bullpen gave up 2 unearned runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over the last 5.1 innings. You have to feel for Jeff Hoffman who had to contend with 2 catchers after Alejandro Kirk was forced to leave the game mid-at-bat after taking a deflected ball off his left thumb. While he struck out the current batter, a cold Tyler Heineman threw a ball into LF and a batter later, Trisatan Peters doinked a nice pitch into RF. Two blown saves, but this was not Hoffman's fault. Nice to see Brendon Little pitch a clean inning after a rough start to the season. Here's hoping this leads to more competent outings.
• Here's hoping the x-rays come back negative on Kirk's thumb because the Blue Jays can ill-afford to lose their captain behind the plate for very long.
• Offensively, the bats are still largely cold. No disrespect to Andres Gimenez, but when he is leading the team offensively, there is cause for concern. The Blue Jays need Vlad and George Springer to come through with their bats. Addison Barger and Daulton Varsho also need to contribute.
• The Blue Jays were 1-9 with runners in scoring position. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid in what is expected to be a bullpen game for both teams with Mason Fluharty and Grant Taylor serving as the openers.

Game #7 Toronto Blue Jays (4-2) @ Chicago White Sox (1-5)

 

Game #6 - Colorado Rockies (2-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-2) - game recap

 

After a solid win last night thanks to 6 strong innings from Max Scherzer and rallies by the offense in the 5th and 7th innings, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 2nd series win of the season.  Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Jesus Sanchez was in RF. Could the Blue Jays make it two straight wins and notch their 2nd series win of the season? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd as Davis Schneider singled scoring Myles Straw 
• Kyle Freeland pitching line: 5IP 5H 1R (earned) 1BB 6K 88 pitches (60 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6IP 2H 0R 0BB 10K 89 pitches (67 for strikes)
• The Rockies tied it in the top of the 8th as Troy Johnston singled scoring Jake McCarthy 
• The Rockies took the lead in the top of the 10th as Tyler Freeman singled scoring Brenton Doyle 
• Jimmy Herget threw a prefect 10th for his first save of the season
• Final score: Rockies 2 Blue Jays 1 (10 innings)

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman was stellar again, firing 6 shutout innings, giving up 2 hits, walking none and striking out 10. He retired the first 12 batters he faced and 6 of the last 7 batters on the day.  Too bad he can't also hit for himself
• This has to be the beginning of the end for Brandon Little. He was fortunate to only allow the one run. This was probably his best game of the season, but he still gave up a run and cost the team the game. He has options and even if he didn't, it's unlikely he'd be picked up by another team or have another team show interest in working out a trade. At the very least, he needs to be used in a low leverage situation and in a regulation inning so he doesn't start with a ghost runner on second base. Also, why isn't Little using the game plan and his pitches the way the team wants him to? That should be a big red flag. 
• This offense is definitely missing Bo Bichette. For all his defensive flaws, his consistent bat added protection to the lineup for guys like Vlad and Alejandro Kirk.  It was probably inevitable we see a regression in offense after seeing career years from several players last year. 
• The Blue Jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road for the first time as they take on the White Sox. The series was supposed to start tomorrow but will instead start Friday due to expected inclement weather The Blue Jays and White Sox split the season series last year with the Blue Jays outscoring the White Sox 25-19. Dylan Cease starts against White Sox righty Sean Burke.

Game #6 Colorado Rockies (1-4) v. Toronto Blue Jays (4-1)

 

Game #5- Colorado Rockies (1-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (4-1) - game recap-

 

Max Scherzer threw 6 solid innings in a 5-1 victory over the Rockies

After a blowout loss last night after Cody Ponce left the game with an injury and the bullpen imploded, the Blue Jays were looking to even the series and avoid their 1st series loss of the season. Ponce was placed on the 15-day IL with a right ACL sprain. Righty Lazaro Estrada was recalled from AAA-ball. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays even the series and avoid their 1st series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• Ryan Feltner pitching line: 3IP 1H 0R 1BB 4K 47 pitches (30 for strikes)
• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 5th as Jesus Sanchez singled scoring Daulton Varsho 
• A batter later?  Tyler Heineman was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• The Rockies got one back in the top of the 6th as Hunter Goodman hammered s solo bomb to the second deck in left-center 
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 4K 83 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Kazuma Okamoto singled scoring Myles Straw 
• A batter later, Nathan Lukes singled scoring Guerrero Jr.  Okamoto was thrown out at 3B on the play
• A batter after that, Ernie Clement doubled home Lukes
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Rockies 1

My Take:

• Max Scherzer gave the Blue Jays what they needed: 6 solid innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 4. The wiley veteran retired the first four batters he faced and was able to make pitches when he had to to get out of jams. Scherzer will certainly be in the rotation at least a few more turns after the injury to Ponce and the other injured starters at least a couple of weeks away from returning. There's also concern with the health of Scherzer, who battled a thumb issue last season. He's still capable of being a solid starter when he's healthy.
• The bulpen did its job, limiting the Rockies to 3 hits while walking none and striking out 2 over the last 3 innings. Nice to see Jeff Hoffman looking sharp despite the non-save situation.
• The bats came up clutch in the 5th and 7th innings, rallying for 5 runs on 8 hits and a walk. Vlad drove in a run and scored once. Nathan Lukes also drove in a run and scored a run
• Every Blue Jays starter had a hit and all but George Springer and Andres Gimenez either scored or drove in a run.
• That was a great response to getting blown out by the worst team in baseball last year
• The Blue Jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 2nd series win of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland