Game #64 - Baltimore Orioles (31-33) @ Toronto Blue Jays (30-34) - game recap

 

Brandon Valezuela hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the Orioles came from behnid to rout the Blue Jays  13-3

After salvaging a game against the mighty Chris Sale on a team effort offensively, the Blue Jays returned home as they opened a 9-game, 10-day homestand against the Orioles. The two teams split the 4 games in Baltimore a week ago with the Orioles outscoring the Blue Jays 21-18. Chad Dallas was optioned to AAA-ball and Simeon Woods Richardson reported to the team after the trade with the Twins on Wednesday. Trey Yesavage got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was in CF and Jesus Sanchez 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 2 games? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Orioles opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Adley Rutschman hammered a solo bomb to  dead center
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. that scored George Springer
• Daulton Varsho left the game prior to the bottom of the 4th with wrist inflammation
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th as Brandon Valenzuela belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Kazuma Okamtoto
• The Orioles tied it in the top of the 6th as Rutschman doubled scoring Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson
• A batter later, Jeremiah Jackson doubled scoring Rutschman
• A batter after that, Coby Mayo hammered a 2-run bomb to the second deck in left
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 5.2IP 5H 6R (all earned) 2BB 5K 91 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Brandon Young pitching line: 6.1IP 7H 3R (all earned) 0BB 4K 85 pitches (64 for strikes)
• The Orioles added a run in the top of the 8th as Jackson singled scoring Rutschman
• Two batters later, Colton Cowser singled scoring Jackson
• A batter later, Mayo scored on a ground out hit by Leody Taveras
• The Orioles added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Rutschman singled scoring Taylor Ward and Henderson
• A batter later, Rutschman and Pete Alonso scored on a throwing error by Okamoto on a ball hit by Taveras
• Final score: Orioles 13 Blues Jays 3

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage battled through 5.2 innings, giving up 6 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. He retired 8 in a row but lost it in the 6th inning, when he was tagged for 5 runs, capped by  a 2-run HR hit by Coby Mayo. Yesavage is still pretty new to the MLB, but teams are building a playbook to use against him, Command was an issue today. Could he be pitching though an injury?
• The bullpen gave up 7 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4 over the last 3.1 innings. Tyler Heineman was the only pitcher to retire every batter he faced.  Adam Macko was the only other reliever to not give up any runs.
• Offensively, the Blue Jays got a 2-run HR off the bat of Brandon Valenzuela, who is doing everything he can to make the decision hard when Alejandro Kirk comes off the IL, and a sac fly from Vlad.
• The Blue Jays cannot catch a break on the injury front. Daulton Varsho had to leave the game with inflammation in his wrist. Backup options are Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes and George Springer in a break glass emergency where the latter 2 got hurt.
• Orioles pitcher Yennier Cano was unsuccessful on the only ABS challenge of the night
• The Blur Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 10th series loss of the season. It'll be a bullpen day for the Blue Jays with Spencer Miles expected to factor in heavily. The Orioles will counter with righty Kyle Bradish

Game #64 Baltimore Orioles (30-33) v. Toronto Blue Jays (30-33)

 

Game #63 - Toronto Blue Jays (30-33) @ Atlanta Braves (42-21) - game recap

 

Myles Straw drove in 3 runs and scored a run in a 7-2 victory over the Braves

After another loss due to a bad day for the pitchers, the Blue Jays were trying to snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season and 1st in a season series. Righty Chad Dallas was selected to the MLB roster, righty Hayden Juenger was optioned to AAA-ball and righty Tanner Andrews was DFA'd. Mason Fluharty got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. George Springer was back in the lineup at DH. Daulton Varsho got the complete day off with Myles Straw at CF. Ernie Clement was at SS and Charles McAdoo was at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season and 1st in a season series? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• Mason Fluharty pitching line: 1.1IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K 25 pitches (14 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Charles McAdoo singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr 
• Two batters later, Myles Straw singled scoring Kazuma Okamoto and McAdoo
• The Braves got one back in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Matt Olson that scored Ronald Acuna Jr. 
• Chris Sale pitching line: 5.2IP 10H 3R (all earned) 2BB 6K 108 pitches (70 for strikes)
• The Braves got one back in the bottom of the 8th as Mauricio Dubon whacked a solo blast to left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• The Blue Jays added a run in the top of the 9th as Nathan Lukes singled scoring Ernie Clement
• A batter later, Myles Straw singled scoring Guerrero Jr.
• A batter after that, Tyler Heineman doubled scoring Lukes and Straw
• Louis Varland got the last 4 outs for his 9th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 7 Braves 2

My Take:

• Mason Fluharty threw 1.1 scoreless innings, giving up a hit, walking 1 and striking out 1. Still not a fan of the whole opener piggy backed by a bulk inning guy phenomen that was started largely by the Rays who were in a similar injury situation that the Blue Jays are facing right now. First and foremost, it burns a reliever right away. Second, what happens if the opener can't get out of the 1st inning? Then you either have to use a SECOND reliever to escape the jam or bring your bulk guy into a mess right away. Also, the bulk guy is going to face the entire lineup at least once and likely twice anyway, so why not let them start the game and settle in right away? Teams should start getting more than just the five pitchers expected to be the traditional starters stretched out in spring training so there is no need for an opener/bulk reliever.
• The rest of the relievers held the Braves to a pair of runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking ut 4 over the last 7.2 innings. Chad Dallas had a decent debut holding the Braves to a run on 2 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1. He'll likely be optioned back to AAA-ball soon once Dylan Cease comes off the IL, likely his next turn. Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland retired every batter they faced
• The offence took full advantage of an ineffective Chris Sale. Myles Straw (3RBI, run scored), Vlad (2 runs scored) and Tyler Heineman led the way today
• Every Blue Jays starter except Yohendrick Pinago had a hit and all but Pinago and George Springer either scored a run or drove in a run
• The Braves were 2-2 on ABS challenges and Myles Straw was unsuccessful on the Blue Jays only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 7-18 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays open 10-day, 9-game homestand against the Orioles. The two teams split the 4-game series in Baltimore a week ago with the Orioles outscoring the Blue Jays 21-18. Righty Kyle Bradish starts for the Orioles. The Blue Jays haven't set their rotation for the series yet.

Game #63 Toronto Blue Jays (29-33) @ Atlanta Barves (42-20)

 

Game #62 - Toronto Blue Jays (29-33) @ Atlanta Braves (42-20) - game recap

Nathan Lukes scored twice, including a solo HR in a 7-3 loss to the Braves

After a late game really fell short yesterday, the Blue Jays were trying to snap the 3- game skid and avoid their 9th series loss of the season. Patrick Corbin got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate.  George Springer got the complete day off (Jesus Sanchez served as DH tonight). Could the Blue Jays snap the three game skid and avoid their 9th series loss of the season?  Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st on a double play ball hit by Jesus Sanchez that scored Nathan Lukes 
• The Braves tied it in the bottom of the 2nd as Ha-Seong Kim singled scoring Eli White. Lukes was charged with s throwing error on the play. 
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the top of the 3rd as Lukes belted a solo jack to right
• The Braves took the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a 3-run bomb to dead center by Mauricio Dubon; also scoring Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies 
• Patrick Corbin pitching line: 5IP 6H 4R (all earned) 2BB 1K 85 pitches (53 for strikes)
• Grant Holmes pitching line: 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 2BB 4K 89 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Braves added 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th as Albies whacked a 3-run blast to left; also scoring Dominic Smith and Olson
• The Blue Jays got one back in the top of the 9th as Brandon Valenzuela hammered a solo bomb to the second deck in right
• Final score: Braves 7 Blue Jays 3

My Take:

•  Patrick Corbin battled through 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 1. It was unfortunate he gave up a 3-run HR immediately after the Blue Jays knotted the game at 2. Corbin struggled with getting out of innings cleanly, getting the first 2 outs and then getting into a jam. Very interesting that the Blue Jays traded for Simeon-Woods Richardson after he was DFA'd by the Twins, especially since Shane Bieber, and Dylan Cease all on rehab assignments this week. The Blue Jays could opt for a 6-man rotation but pitchers are creatures of habit and would likely falter if off their typical 5 day rotation more than a turn or two.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 1and striking out none over the last 3 innings. Rookie Adam Macko was taken deep for the three runs against. Hayden Juenger retired every batter he faced
• Nathan Lukes led the way offensively, scoring twice, including a solo HR. Brandon Valenzuela also went deep in the 9th. Valenzuela is doing everything he can to force his way into the backup catcher role when Alejandro Kirk returns in a week or two.
• The Blue Jays were 0-1 on ABS challenges and the Braves succeessly overturned their only ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 0-4 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 and 1st time in a season series. It will be another bullpen day with righty Chad Dallas is in Atlanta on the taxi squad so will likely figure in as a bulk reliever or traditional starter. The Braves will counter with lefty Chris Sale