Game #95 - Toronto Blue Jays (45-50) @ San Diego Padres (47-48) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a 3-run HR in a losing effort as te Padres came from behind to edge the Blue Jays 8-7

After prevailing yesterday on the strength of a 3-run HR off the bat of Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jas were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games and notch their 12th series win of the season and 4th season series win of the season. Trey Yesavage got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Nathan Lukes was in RF. Andres Gimenez was at SS and Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games and notch their 12th series win of the season and 4th season series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Padres opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a bases loaded walk to Gavin Sheets that forced in Fernando Tatis Jr.
• A batter later, Jackson Merrill scored on a sac fly by Ty France
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 2nd as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Kazuma Okamoto
• A batter later, Daulton Varsho scored on a ground out hit by Andres Gimenez
• A batter after that, Jonatan Clase whacked a 2-run blast to right; also scoring Kirk 
• The Padres tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Manny Machado doubled scoring Sung-Mun Song and Merrill
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 1.2IP 1H 4R (all earned) 7BB 1K 59 pitches (20 for strikes)
• Walker Buehler pitching line: 2IP 3H 4R (all earned) 4BB 1K 65 pitches (31 for strikes)
• The Padres retook the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Song singled scoring France and Jake Cronenworth
• The Padres added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Cronenworth singled scoring France
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr, hammered a 3-run bomb to the second deck in left; also scoring Clase and Nathan Lukes
• The Padres retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as France drilled a solo blast to left
• Mason Miller threw a scoreless 9th for his 24th save of the season
• Final score: Padres 8 Blue Jays 7

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage was lit up for 4 runs on a hit while walking 7 and striking out 1 over 1.2 innings. This was definitely not how he wanted to end his first half. Plain and simple, Yesavage had zero command and ended up walking in 2 runs. It's been a struggle all year for Yesavage, who doesn't seem to have a ton of confidence in his splitter.
• The bullpen wasn't terribly effective today, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits while walking 4 and striking out 6 over the last 6.1 innings. Every reliever gave up at least one run. Mason Fluharty was tagged with the loss.
• The offense did its part to try and bail out the pitchers. Vlad annihilated a 3-run HR to the second deck in left to tie the game in the 5th. Call-up Jonatan Clase went deep in the 2nd to give the Blue Jays their only lead of the game. Alas the 9th inning rally fell short with Okamoto striking out to end the game
• Every Blue Jays starter except George Springer and Andres Gimenez reached base at least once.
• The Padres were 3-1 on ABS challenges. Alejandro Kirk was unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to end the unofficial first half on a winning note and try to notch their 12th series win and 4th season series win of the season. Ace Kevin Gausman starts against Padres righty German Marquez

Game #95 - Toronto Blue Jays (45-49) @ San Diego Padres (46-48)

 

This one will stump even Tom J. Or BBB...whichever.

Ok so last night wasn't exactly a mashing...

But we won.

Let's kick some ass tonight and keep it going!

I don't really have anything funny tonight...

Game #94 - Toronto Blue Jays (44-49) @ San Diego Padres (46-47)

 

Man...did I ever get thrown in over my head in 1987....

Was it the stupid dragon?

Was is the new homerum jacket?

Was it the shitty Giants pitching?

Who knows....

What I do know is the offense is on a roll and the vibes seem a little better.

So let's see if, despite the off day, the mashing continues.

Also...congrats to Madison Shipman on her first game in the booth as colour analyst.

CONGRATS TO IAO ON HIS COUP D'ETAT!!!

I, for one welcome our new insect overlord!

Game #93 - Toronto Blue Jays (44-49) @ San Francisco Giants (38-54) - game recap

 

After snapping the three game skid yesterday on the strength of an 8-run outburst over 2 innings, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games, notch their 12th series win and 5th season series win of the season. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.  George Springer returned to the lineup as DH. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 12th series win of the season and 5th season series win?  Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Daulton Varsho singled scoring Ernie Clement
• A batter later, Kazuma Okamoto whacked a grand slam to the opposite field in right; also scoring Varsho, Nathan Lukes and George Springer 
• Logan Webb pitching line: 7IP 5H 5R (all earned) 2BB 2K 106 pitches (72 for strikes)
• The Blue jays added a run in the top of the 8th on a fielder's choice hit by Myles Straw that scored Varsho
• A batter later, Andres Gimenez singled scoring Okamoto
• The Blue jays added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Vladimir Gurrero Jr hammered a 2-run bomb to dead center; also scoring Lukes
• A batter later, Springer hammered a solo bomb to straightaway center
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 8IP 1H 0R 3BB 11K 118 pitches (81 for strikes)
• Final score: Blue Jays 10 Giants 0

My Take:

• Dylan Cease was outstanding today, taking a no hitter into the 9th inning.  This game reminded me a lot of Johan Santana's no hitter in 2012 where he threw a ridiculous 134 pitches. Ceases ended up being removed immediately after giving up a leadoff single in the 9th inning at 118 pitches. It's highly unusual for managers, even when a pitcher is tossing a perfect game or no hitter, to let a pitcher go that far with the pitch count, especially with all the injuries pitchers have had with their arms. Perhaps Schneider let Cease trey to finish the game because it was going to be his last start before the  all-star break, giving the righty a few extra days rest. It will be interesting to see how Cease does in his next start.  Santana strugg led in his next several starts. Of course, Santana also was coming off major shoulder surgery that might have impacted his recovery.
• Tyler Rogers got the last three outs without giving up anything further.
• Apparently, facing a weak Giants pitching staff was just what the Blue jays lineup needed. The offense jumped all over Giants starter Logan Webb, putting five runs on the board in the first inning, including a grand slam from Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto. Heck even Vlad and George Springer went deep. Interestingly Springer was batting in the cleanup spot and not his usual leadoff spot. 
• The Giants were successful on their only ABS challenge while the Blue jays were unsuccessful on both their ABS challenges
• The Blue jays were 3-10 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays continue the road trip in San Diego. The Blue Jays swept the season series last year, outscoring the Padres 24-6. The Padres will start lefty JP Sears on Friday. The Blue Jays haven't set their rotation for the series yet. 

Game #93 - Toronto Blue Jays (43-49) @ San Francisco Giants (38-53)

 

I was a pretty good pitcher but kind of a sour puss...

Last night was a lot better...

The Jays actually mustered up some offense and looked alive.

Today we'll find out if they can keep it up.