Sunday, September 16, 2018

Game #149 Toronto Blue Jays (67-82) @ New York Yankees (91-58) - game recap

Thomas Pannone threw 7 strong innings as the Blue Jays came from behind to defeat the Yankees for the second straight day 3-2 

Today was the rubber match of the final series of the season between the Yankees and Blue Jays. Toronto was looking to win a series over the Yankees for the first time all season. A loss for New York would also increase the odds of the Yankees being forced to play the wild card game on the road in Oakland.  Thomas Pannone was looking for his third career win against a Yankees team that will be playing desperate baseball in an attempt to avoid a long flight west for a wild card game, or missing the playoffs altogether. Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

  • The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the second as Andrew McCutchen led off with a HR to left-center
  • Four batters later, Giancarlo Stanton scored on a sac fly by Didi Gregorius
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 3rd as Reese McGuire doubled, scoring Richard Urena
  • Lance Lynn pitching line: 5IP 3H 1R (earned) 1BB 7K 80 pitches (53 for strikes)
  • Thomas Pannone pitching line: 7IP 4H 2R (both earned) 2BB 6K 103 pitches (73 for strikes)
  • The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 8th as Rowdy Tellez singled, scoring McGuire
  • A batter latter, Randal Grichuk doubled home Kevin Pillar
  • Ken Giles continues to be perfect in save situations on the season, pitching a scoreless 9th for his 20th save of the season
  • Final score: Blue Jays 3 Yankees 2
My Take

  • Thomas Pannone had a bit of a rocky 1st inning, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk. After that he settled down, allowing just one single until the 7th. Pannone retired 12 batters in a row at one point. Whatever Pete Walker said to him in the dugout after the 1st inning was pure genius. Pannone will definitely get a long look at training camp next year
  • The Yankees better watch their backs because the Rays just took two of three from Oakland and Seattle is tied with TB just 8.5 games back of NY.
  • Great comeback by the Blue Jays to get Pannone that victory. Even better, they came back against the overhyped Yankees bullpen
  • Toescar Hernandez continues to be an adventure in the outfield. While he made a nice catch in right field, he let a ball get past him, nearly leading to the tying run in the 8th, luckily the next batter Aaron Hicks struck out swinging.It was his 8th error of the season. I don't see how the Blue Jays can use Hernandez in the field when he continues committing errors on plays he should make. He cold DH, but that is Kendrys Morales' position
  • Reese McGuire was terrific behind the plate today and was 2-4 at the plate and scored the game-tying run
  • Rowdy Tellez pinch hit for Jonathan Davis in the 8th and drove in the game-tying run
  • Jonathan Davis pinch ran for Kendrys Morales in the 6th and did nothing consequential on the base path.
  • Richard Urena started at SS today. He was 1-4 with a double in the third inning. He scored the Blue Jays 1st run. He made two plays in the field today.
  • Mark Leiter Jr. pitched a scoreless 8th to set things up for Giles in the 9th.
  • Up next, the Blue Jays head to Baltimore, where they will attempt to snap a three game losing streak against the bottom-feeders that are the Orioles. Ryan Borucki gets the start against an unannounced Orioles pitcher