Game #69 Washington Nationals (37-29) @ Toronto Blue Jays (31-38) - game recap

Yangervis Solarte blasted a pair of 2 run HR as the Blue Jays beat the Nationals 6-5

Another game, another interleague opponent. Tonight, the Blue Jays began a three game set against the Washington Nationals. The last time these foes met, the Blue Jays won the series 2 games to 1. Bryce Harper had 5 hits in that series, including a pair of doubles.Marco Estrada won the middle game of that series. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game highlights

• The Nationals opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Anthony Rendon singled home Bryce Harper
• The lead was doubled in the top of the 2nd on a Pedro Severino single that scored Juan Soto
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 3rd on a Devon Travis 2 run HR that also scored Aledmys Diaz.
• Three batters later, the Blue Jays took the lead on an upper deck HR by Yangervis Solarte
• In the top of the 5th, Trea Turner scored on a wild pitch to tie the game
• Aaron Sanchez pitching line: 6IP 6H 3R (all earned) 2BB 8K 104 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 7th as Travis scored on a sac fly by Justin Smoak
• The next batter, Solarte hit his 2nd 2 run bomb of the game, also scoring Teoscar Hernandez. Solarte became the 8th Blue Jay to hit HR from both sides of the plate in the same game and first since Kendrys Morales did it last year on July 27 vs Oakland.
• The Nationals got one back in the top of the 8th as Daniel Murphy singled home Harper
• A batter later, the Nationals got within one as Rendon scored on a double play ball hit by Mark Reynolds
• Ryan Tepera got his 4th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Nationals 5

My take

• Nationals 1B Matt Adams was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the 3rd after fouling a ball off his knuckles in the top of the 2nd. Hopefully it is just a contusion and nothing is fractured.
• Aaron Sanchez got stronger as the game went on. He threw 40 pitches the first 2 innings and had 2 big strikeouts in the 6th. Two concerns stemming from the game today: the velocity difference between his fastball and changeup is 4mph and Sanchez is still not utilizing his curve often enough. He has a great curve ball and he needs to use it to be effective. I get that he's worried about another blister, but he still needs to use his full arsenal.
• Devon Travis, Aledmys Diaz and Yangervis Solarte all had multi-hit games
• Up next, the Blue Jays look for their second series win this month as the Blue Jays face Max Scherzer, who has been nearly unhittable this season. Marco Estrada will likely need to be at his best for the Blue Jays to have a chance.