Game #28 - Boston Red Sox (12-17) @ Toronto Blue Jays (12-16) - game recap

Daulton Varsho hit a double in the 9th inning, one of just three players to reach base in a 5-0 shutout loss to the Red Sox

 

After a rally for the second straight day thanks to Jesus Sanchez going deep, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the winning streak to 3 games as they welcomed the Red Sox to town. The Blue Jays won the season series 8-5 last year, but the Red Sox outscored the Blue Jays 56-53. Max Scherzer was placed on the 15 day IL with right forearm tendinities and left ankle inflammation. Righty Chase Lee was recalled from AAA-ball. Dylan Cease got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after the half day off as DH last night (Eloy Jimenez served as DH tonight). Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Lenyn Sosa got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays increase the win streak to 3 games? Here is  tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as Marcelo Mayer singled scoring Wilson Contreras
• The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 5th as Roman Anthony singled scoring Jarren Duran
• A batter later, Wilyer Abreu doubled home Contreras 
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 5.2IP 7H 4R (all earned) 3BB 5K 107 pitches (65 for strikes)
• The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 8th as Carlos Narvaez whacked a solo blast to left-center
• Ranger Suarez pitching line: 8IP 1H 0R 1BB 10 105 pitches (66 for strikes)
• Red Sox 5 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Dylan Cease battled through 5.2 innings, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits while walking 3 and striking out 5. Not his best outing as a Blue Jay. He retired 9 of the first 10 batters before the Red Sox started getting to him bit by bit.
• The bullpen gave upa run on 2 hits while walking one and striking out 3 over the last 3.1 innings. Lefty Joe Mantiply got unlucky not to get the last batter he faced or he would have retired every batter he faced.
• The offence today: Davis Schneider walk immediately erased by an MK special double play, double by Jesus Sanchez on a nice inside out swing to lead off the 6th to break up the no-hitter, and a 2-out double by pinch hitter Daulton Varsho that basically delayed the end of the game a few piches.
• The Blue Jays were 3-1 on 4 ABS challenges and the Red Sox were 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 0-4 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 6th series loss of the season. Trey Yesavage makes his season debut after missing the first month of the season with a shoulder impingement. The Red Sox will counter with lefty Payton Tolle

Game #28 - Boston Red Sox (11-17) v. Toronto Blue Jays (12-15)

 

Game #27 - Cleveland Guardians (15-14) @ Toronto Blue Jays (12-15) - game recap

 

Jesus Sanchez hit a go-ahead 2-run HR in the 6th inning to lead the Blue Jays to a 4-2 victory over the Guardians

After hanging on for a comeback win yesterday on the strength of a 6th inning rally by the bats, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 3rd series win of the season. Patrick Corbin got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Yohendrick Piñango was in LF and Jesus Sanchez was in RF. Ernie Clement got the start at SS with Davis Schneider at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and 3 series wins? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled scoring Ernie Clement
• A batter later, Daulton Varsho scored on a sac fly by Jesus Sanchez
• The Guardians got one back in the top of the 5th as Brayan Rocchio singled scoring Juan Brito
• Two batters later, Angel Martinez doubled scoring Austin Hedges
• Patrick Corbin pitching line: 4.2IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 84 pitches (52 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Sanchez whacked a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Slade Cecconi pitching line: 5.2IP 6H 4R (all earned) 1BB 5K 90 pitches (60 for strikes)
• Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 3rd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Guardians 2

My Take:

• Patrick Corbin battled through 4.2 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. For the most part, he was able to make pitches when he had to and had an out streak of 6. It's likely Corbin will get to remain in the rotation as Eric Lauer and Max Scherzer have struggled worse than him.
• The bullpen gave up 2 hits while walking 3 and striking out 6 in 4.1 scoreless innings. Jeff Hoffman made his first appearance since losing his role as the closer and walked a batter. Tyler Rogers, who has been absolutely lights out and should be the closer IMO, retired every batter he faced
• Jesus Sanchez did the damage offensively (3RBI, including the go-ahead 2-run HR) and is forcing the Blue Jays to make a tough choice when the position players start coming off the IL. Vlad, who notched his 1000th career MLB game Friday, came through with an RBI and run scored today.
• The Blue Jays were 2-2 on ABS challenges and the Guardians were 1-2. The Guardians also lost their regular challenge on a stolen base where the out call was upheld
• The Blue Jays were 2-2 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays meet their division rivals, the Boston Red Sox for the first time this season. The Blue Jays won the season series 8-5 last year, but the Red Sox outscored the Blue Jays 56-53. Dylan Cease got the start against Red Sox lefty Ranger Suarez

Game #27 - Cleveland Guardians (15-13) v. Toronto Blue Jays (11-15)

 

Game #26 - Cleveland Guardians (15-13) @ Toronto Blue Jays (11-15) - game recap

 

Kevin Gausman threw 6.2 strong innings in a 5-3 win over the Guardians

After a loss yesterday due to a horrible start from Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game skid, even the series and avoid their 6th series loss of the season. Nathan Lukes was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain.Yoendrick Pinago was selected to the MLB roster. Yimi Garcia was transferred to the 60-day IL. Ace Kevin Gausman got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Davis Schneider was in LF and Myles Straw was in RF.  Eloy Jimenez served as DH. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2-game skid, even the series and avoid their 6th series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Guardians opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd on a ground out hit by Brayan Rocchio that scored Juan Brito
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 4th as Kazuma Okamoto anihiliated a solo bomb to straightaway center
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 6th as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Two batters later, Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Okamoto and Varsho
• Joey Cantillo pitching line: 5IP 6H 3R (all earned) 1BB 4K 89 pitches (60 for strikes)
• The Gaurdians got one back in the top of the 7th as David Fry whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 6.2IP 6H 2R (both earned) 0BB 3K 91 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom half of the inning on a bases loaded walk to Okamoto that forced in Myles Straw
• The Guardians got one back in the top of the 9th as Kyle Manzardo doubled scoring Rhys Hoskins
• Louis Varland got the last 3 outs for his 2nd save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 5 Guardians 3

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman fired 6.2 strong innings giving up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking none and striking out 3. Gausman gave the Blue Jays some much needed length, pitching into the 7th, after a couple of short outings that taxed the bullpen. He maybe didn't have his best stuff working since he wasn't racking up the strikeouts like he usually does, but inducing contact might have given him a few extra batters on the day. Gausman should be in the conversation for Cy Young at the end of the season.
• Jeff Hoffman must have been sitting in that bullpen thinking that the closer job isn't so easy. Louis Varland barely got the save, getting fortunate just one run scored on the double hit by Kyle Manzardo. He then won an 8-pitch battle against Bo Naylor and then finished Brayan Rocchio with a booming 98MPH fastball. To me, the best pitcher in the bullpen, and that is Tyler Rogers, should be the closer. He has such command  of his pitches and induces soft contact time and time again. Mason Fluharty, Varland, Hoffman and Brayden Fisher are your setup guys, order determined by the situation.
• The offense rallied in the 6th for 3 runs, including a 2-run double for the 2nd straight day by Andres Gimenez. Kazuma Okamoto is starting to look very comfortable at the plate and he scored twice, including absolutely crushing a home run to the moon!
• Every Blue Jays starter except Eloy Jimenez reached base at least once and all but Jimenez and Davis Schneider had a hit
• The Guardians were 2-1 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays were 2-2.
• The Blue Jays were 3-14 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 3rd series win of the season. Patrick Corbin starts against Guardians righty Slade Cecconi