Game #103 Toronto Blue Jays (47-56) @ Chicago White Sox (37-67) - game recap

White Sox outfielder Leury Garcia broke the game open with a bases-clearing three-run triple as the White Sox came from behind to defeat the Blue Jays 9-5

Another bullpen day! Tonight was supposed to be JA Happ's start but he was traded to the Yankees on Thursday.  Instead the Blue Jays started righty John Axford, making his first career start. Newcomer Brandon Drury also got his first start in a Blue Jays uniform, after striking out while pinch hitting yesterday. With the trade deadline looming in 2 days, it could be the last game for Axford and Curtis Granderson. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 1st as Kendrys Morales singled home Curtis Granderson
• The Blue Jays added two more in the top of the 2nd as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Singled scoring Russell Martin and Brandon Drury.
• The Blue Jays added another run in the top of the 3rd as Martin crushed a solo HR over the bullpen in left field
• John Axford pitching line: 3IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K 38 pitches (24 for strikes)
• The white Sox got one back in the top of the 4th as Yolmer Sanchez homered to right
• The Blue Jays added another run in the top of the 5th as Yangervis Solarte singled home Justin Smoak
• Lucas Giolito pitching line: 4.1IP 9H 5R (all earned) 1BB 3K 94 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The White Sox got one back in the bottom of the 7th as Nicky Delmonico hit a solo shot to right-center
• The White Sox got within one in the bottom of the 8th as Avisail Garcia singled scoring Sanchez
• Two batters later, Daniel Palos singled home Garcia and Jose Abreu
• Two batters later, Leury Garcia tripled to score Palma, Smith and Delmonico.
• Final score: White Sox 9 Blue Jays 5

My Take

• John Axford was excellent tonight, allowing just one hit in three innings in his first career start. With JA Happ now a Yankee, the Blue Jays simply did not have a pitcher they could trust to throw what a traditional starter would throw. Jaime Garcia and Joe Biagini had both been used as starters and both failed to make it past 5 innings more often than not. Unfortunately, the relievers the Blue Jays have do not match up well against most teams and today was no different.
• The relievers today were handed a four run lead after three innings. The White Sox got one back in the 4th on a solo HR. The Blue Jays restored the four run lead in the top of the 5th. Most of the damage was done in the 8th inning when the White Sox batted around and put up 6 runs on 4 hits, 2 hit batters (both by Ryan Tepera) and a walk (charged to Jaime Garcia). Newcomer Oliver Drake was the only Blue Jays pitcher not to allow at least a hit or a walk and yesterday he was tagged for 3 runs on 4 hits. If this is the way the bullpen handles a lead, it's going to be a long final 2 months of the season.
• Russell Martin had a good night at the plate with 2 hits, including his 8th HR of the season and a walk. He is slowly inching his way to batting .200 (he's batting .182 after tonight's game)
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. broke a Blue Jays record for most consecutive multi-hit games with his 10th straight tonight. In a unique twist, he is the 1st to achieve this feat since former White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson. Gurriel Jr. has turned into a great signing by the Blue Jays, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
• Up next, the Blue Jays look to take the rubber match of this series and the season series as they wrap up play vs. the White Sox with a matinee featuring rookie southpaw Ryan Borucki against veteran lefty Carlos Rodon, who took a no-hitter into the 6th inning in his last start Tuesday vs. the LA Angels.