Game #80 Toronto Blue Jays (37-43) @ Houston Astros (54-28) - game recap

Alex Bregman hit the game-winning walk-off HR in the bottom of the 9th as the Astros defeated the Blue Jays 7-6

Well, one game where the Blue Jays looked like they could play with the big dogs and one game where it looked like David vs. Goliath and David lost bad last night. Things didn't get any easier in the series finale as the Blue Jays batters were facing a pitcher who hadn't given up an earned run in his last 12 innings. Meanwhile, the Astros were up against a pitcher who has a tendency to give up the long ball and with a potent lineup full of guys who can knock it out of the park. Here is today's game recap.

Game highlights

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Yangervis doubled to score Randal Grichuk
• Two batters later, Teoscar Herrnandez scored on a sac fly by Kendrys Morales
• The next batter, Kevin Pillar singled home Solarte
• The next batter, Aledmys Diaz, singled to score Steve Pearce
• Pillar Scored on a sac fly by the next batter, Luke Maile
• The Astros got a pair back in the bottom of the 1st as Evan Gattis doubled to score George Springer and Jose Altuve
• The next batter, Josh Reddock, singled home Gattis
• The Astros got within 1 in the bottom of the 5th as Gattis doubled home Alex Bregman
• Pillar scored an insurance run in the top of the 6th on a fielding error by Altuve on a Devon Travis grounder
• Dallas Keuchel pitching line: 5.1IP 7H 6R (all earned) 3BB 3K 96 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Marco Estrada pitching line: 5IP 7H 4R (3 earned) 2BB 1K 93.pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Astros walked it off in the bottom of the 9th on a Bregman 2 run HR that also scored Tony Kemp
• Final score: Astros 7 Blue Jays 6 

My take:

• What a crazy first inning we saw today. Both teams combined for 8 runs on 6 hits, 3 walks and George Springer reaching on catcher's interference. Even crazier, not one ball left the ballpark. In fact the only home run hit today was the walk-off HR hit by Bregman in the bottom of the 9th. Oh, and both starters threw over 30 pitches in the 1st inning.
• As mentioned above, neither Marco Estrada nor Dallas Keuchel were sharp to start the game. However, both starters got stronger as the game went on and both starters completed 5 innings. Estrada had been pitching well his past few starts, but today he did not have his best stuff. That said, he was facing one of the more potent lineups in the league today.
• In another strange decision, John Gibbons put Randal Grichuk, who came into the came with the second worst batting average on the team, in the leadoff spot. His move paid immediate dividends as Grichuk led off with a double, sparking the team to a 5 run inning, in fact, 4 runs were home before the first out was recorded.
• Kevin Pillar and Aledmys Diaz both had good days at the plate with 3 hits and 1 RBI each.
• This was lost when Tepera went upstairs on Bregman one too many times. Until Osuna returns in August, unless he is traded, the closer's role will be filled by one of Tepera, Tyler Clippard and Seunghwan Oh.
• Up next, after an off-day tomorrow, the Blue Jays begin a 4-game series back in Toronto against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers took two of three at the beginning of the month. Friday's pitching matchup sees Marcus Stroman up against an unknown starter from Detroit (the Tigers have not yet announced who will start Friday's game.