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| Alejandro Kirk hit a solo HR in a 4-2 come-from behind loss to the Rays |
After another blowout loss due to bad pitching, offense and defense, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 17th series loss of the season. Jonatan Clase was placed on the 10 day IL with left plantar fasciitis. Yohendrick Pinago was recalled from AAA-ball (and got the start in LF. Righty Lazaro Estrada was optioned to AAA-ball and righty CJ Van Eyk was recalled from AAA-ball. It was a bullpen day with Brayden Fisher getting the start and Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto got the complete day off with Sean Keys at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 17th series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.
Game Highlights:
- The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a ground out hit by George Springer that scored Nathan Lukes
- The Rays tied it in the top of the 2nd as Victor Mesa Jr. singled scoring Chandler Simpson
- Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1.1IP 0H 1R (earned) 2BB 1K 26 pitches (11 for strikes)
- The Rays took the lead in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Simpson that scored Yandy Diaz
- A batter later, Mesa Jr. singled scoring Junior Caminero
- Two batters later, Cedric Mullins was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Ben Williamson
- Griffin Jax pitching line: 6IP 3H 1R (earned) 1BB 5K 83 pitches (57 for strikes)
- The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk belted a solo jack to left-center
- Bryan Baker threw a perfect 9th for his 26th save of the season
- Final score: Rays 4 Blue Jays 2
My Take:
- Brayden Fisher was the opener in today's bullpen day, necessitated by Patrick Corbin losing his effectiveness as a starting pitcher and Max Scherzer being a rehab start or two away from being ready to return to the rotation. I still don't like the of the opener largely because it wastes a reliever right away. Also, pitchers are very much creatures of habit and preparing for a start once every five days vs. being a reliever who might pitch on back to back days and comes in often with men on base or the score dictating the situation is very different. One hall of fame pitcher who was excellent as both a starter and a reliever was the great Dennis Eckersley, who won 20 games as a starter in 1978 and saved 51 games in 1992 when he won the Cy Young award. The Blue Jays should see about getting a starting pitcher back at the trade deadline.
- The bullpen gave up a further 3 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8 over the last 6.2 innings. One huge positive, Brendon Little is looking much more effective since he was recalled a few days ago. Hopefully he keeps building on these positive outings
- Offensively, Alejandro Kirk went deep in the 7th inning and Nathan Lukes scored on a ground out. It has to be alarming to everyone from the front office to manager John Schneider that Vladdy still hasn't gone deep at the Rogers Centre this season.
- Rays catcher Nick Fortes was successful on the Rays only ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk was 1-1 on ABS challenges
- The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
- Up next, The Blue Jays try to snap the 4 game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season. Shane Bieber starts against Rays lefty Ian Seymour
