Game #138 Toronto Blue Jays (79-59) @ Cincinatti Reds (70-68) - game recap

 

Bo Bichette hit a 2-run home run in a losing effort as the Reds came from behind to walk off the Blue Jays 5-4

After salvaging a game to avoid a sweep yesterday thanks to an 8-run output from the offence and the bullpen holding it together, the Blue Jays kicked off a week long road trip with a labour day matinee in Cincinatti. The Reds won the season series last year with both teams scoring 20 runs. Isiah Kiner-Falefah, claimed off waivers yesterday is the September position player call-up. Dillon Tate is the 14th pitcher. Nick Sandlin was moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the roster for him. Chris Bassitt got the start wuth Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daulton Varsho was back in the lineup and in CF after missing a couple of days with a sore hand after getting drilled by a fastball. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Reds opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ke'Bryan Hayes doubled scoring Gavin Lux and Sal Stewart 
• The Blue Keys got one back in the top of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Bo Bichette
• Hunter Greene pitching line: 6.1IP 5H 1R (earned) 1BB 7K 101 pitches (77 for strikes)
• Chris Bassitt pitching line: 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 2BB 6K 107 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 9th as Bichette whacked a 2-run blast to the opposite field in right-center; also scoring Myles Straw 
• A batter later, Daulton Varsho belted a solo jack to right
• The Reds got one back on a ground rule double by TJ Friedl that scored Hayes
• A batter later, Noelvi singled scoring Matt McLain and  Friedl
• Final score: Reds 5 Blue Jays 4

My Take:

• Chris Bassitt battled through 6 innings, giving up a pair of runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6. Pretty gutsy of him to go out for the 6th and 7th innings when he either had a blister or cut on his finger. It also says a lot about the trust John Schneider and Co have on the bullpen. After giving up the 2-run double in the 2nd inning, Bassitt beared down and retired seven straight Reds hitters.
• Too bad the bullpen couldn't come through. Tommy Nance got that big high-leverage situation he deserved and promptly gave up hits to two of the batters he faced. Brandon Little was then given the opportunity to redeem himself, but could not retire either batter he faced and got fortunate it wasn't a tie ball game after the first batter when the call was overturned to a ground-rule double. This has to be the end of Little, whose confidence is shattered beyond repair. If the bullpen doesn't sort itself out soon, the Blue Jays could miss the playoffs entirely with the tough September schedule they face and that should lead to the firing of both John Schneider and Pete Walker.
• The bats came through in the 9th, led by Bo Bichette, who is about to receive a massive payday in the off-season, who went deep to the opposite field in right-center to give the Blue Jays their first lead of the game. He would also score the teams 1st run of the game in the 7th inning. Daulton Varsho also went deep despite a sore hand to give the Blue Jays a 2-run cushion. The Blue Jays need Addison Barger's bat to heat up again, and some production from the bottom of the lineup, which was a combined 0-11 on the day.
• The Blue Jays were 1-7 with runners in scoring position
• The Bosox won their labour day matinee, bringing them within 2.5 games back of the Blue Jays  for 1st in the AL East. The idle Yankees also gained a half game in the standings and are also 2.5 games back of 1st in the AL East
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series and avoid their 17th series loss and 6th season series loss. Ace Jose Berrios starts against Reds lefty Nick Lodolo

Game #138 Toronto Blue Jays (79-58) @ Cincinnati Reds (69-68)

 

Game #137 Milwaukee Brewers (85-53) @ Toronto Blue Jays (79-58) - game recap

 

Nathan Lukes scored twice and drove in a run in an 8-4 comeback win over the Brewers

After the bullpen, this time Jeff Hoffman blew another game,  the Blue Jays were looking to snap the two game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time and being swept for the 2nd time in a season series. Isiah Kiner-Falefa was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh. Yimi Garcia was transferred to the 60 day IL. Max Scherzer got the start with Tyler Heineman behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday (George Springer served as DH today). Nathan Lukes was in LF and Addison Barger was in RF. Ernie Clement was at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the two game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time and being swept for the 2nd time in a season series? Here is today's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Brewers opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as William Contreras smacked a 2-run blast to left; also scoring Jackson Chourio
• The Blue jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Nathan Lukes doubled scoring George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• A batter later, Ernie Clement singled home Lukes
• The Blue jays added a run in the  bottom of the 2nd as Springer doubled scoring Myles Straw 
• The Brewers got one back in the top of the 3rd as Brice Turang smacked a solo blast to the opposite field in left and into the Blue Jays bullpen
• Three batters later, Contreras singled scoring Chourio
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th as Guerrero Jr.  singled scoring Springer
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 4IP 9H 4R (all earned) 0BB 1K 67 pitches (45 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Tyler Heineman doubled scoring Clement
• A batter later, Straw singled scoring Andre Gimenez and Heineman 
• Brandon Woodruff pitching line: 4.1IP 10H 8R (5 earned) 2BB 3K 89 pitches (59 for strikes)
• Final score Blue Jays 8 Brewers 4

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 4 innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits while walking none and strikng out 1. The Brewers took him deep twice, moving the Blue Jays starters into 1st place for home runs allowed. Overall, Blue Jays pitchers are 3rd behind the Rockies and A's for home runs allowed. Could there be cause for concern that Scherzer was lifted after throwing 67 pitches or perhaps John Schneider and Co. wanted to limit the damage knowing how bad the bullpen has been lately.
• Speaking of the bullpen, aside from Brandon Litlle, who looks like his confidence is shattered, it held things together, pitching 5 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, walking none and striking out 5. Back to Little, who loaded the bases on a hit, and 2 errors commited by him (a fielding error on a fairly routine ground ball that should have resulted in at least one out and then he fielded a ball cleanly, but got indecisive of where to record the out and ended up throwing the ball in the dirt at Vladdy. Right away, Tyler Heineman was telling him to throw to 1st base for the sure out. By the time Little realized that 1st was his only option, after considering throwing to get the runner at 3rd base and 2nd base, he had to rush the throw). He did record on out and he threw underhand to get that out, and needed Tommy Nance to bail him out. Nance should start seeing some higher leverage situations since he has been the team's best pitcher by far. Louis Varland bounced back with what might have been his best appearance as a Blue Jays, retiring all five batters he faced and striking out 3.
• Offensively, the bottom five in the order (Nathan Lukes, Ernie Clement, Andres Gimenez, Tyler Heineman and Myles Straw) did the damage, combining to go 8-20 with 5 runs scored and 6 RBI. Leadoff man George Springer also scored twice and drove in a run. 
• Every Blue Jays starter reached base at least once and all but Bo Bichette had a hit
• The Blue Jays were 5-10 with runners in scoring position
• It was mixed results in the standings with the Yankees losing and the Red Sox winning. The Yankees are 3 games back of the Blue Jays and the Red Sox are 3.5 games back of the Blue Jays for 1st in the AL East.
• Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road starting with a matinee in Cincinatti tomorrow. The Reds won the season series last year with both teams scoring 20 runs. Chris Bassitt starts against Reds righty Hunter Greene.

Game #137 Milwaukee Brewers (85-52) v. Toronto Blue Jays (78-58)

 

Game #136 Milwaukee Brewers (85-52) @ Toronto Blue Jays (78-58) - game recap

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in the only Blue Jays run on a sac fly in a-4-1 come-from-behind loss to the Brewers

After a brutal loss due to the bullpen blowing up and an anemic offence, the Blue Jays were looking to avoid their 15th series loss and 4th season series loss of the season. Justin Bruihl was optioned to AAA-ball and Easton Lucas was recalled from AAA-ball. Kevin Gausman got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Ty France at 1B. George Springer was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Addison Barger got the start at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays avoid their 15th series loss and 4th season series loss of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 6th on a sac fly by Vladimir Guerrero Jr that scored George Springer
• The Brewers tied it up in the top of the 7th on a ground out by Sal Frelick that scored Christian Yelich
• Quinn Priester pitching line: 5H 1R (unearned) 0BB 82 pitches (56 for strikes)
• Kevin Gausman pitching line: 7IP 4H 1R (earned) 0BB 8K 95 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Brewers took the lead in the top of the 9th as Jackson Chourio whacked a solo blast to the opposite field in right and into the Brewers bullpen
• A batter later, Yelich smacked a solo blast to the opposite field in left-center
• Four batters later, Isaac Collins doubled scoring Frelich
• Abner Uribe pitched a scoreless 9th for his 4th save of the season
• Final score: Brewers 4 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Kevin Gausman fired 7 strong innings,  giving up a run on 4 hits while walking none and striking out 8. The Blue Jays needed this effort from Gausman to give an overworked bullpen a break. He retired 9 of the first 11 batters, with the 9th out being a pickoff at 1st base. Gausman also retired 9 of the last 10 batters he faced. 
• The bullpen imploded again. This time Jeff Hoffman came in with a 1-1 tie in the 9th, looking to hold the score to give the Blue Jays a chance to walk it off in the bottom half of the inning. Instead, he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits (two of which were back-to-back home runs to start the 9th) and a walk. It's clear his confidence is not great. Trouble is, the Blue Jays don't have anyone pitching well enough to take over the closer's role. Seranthony Dominguez has wildness issues and gave up 2 hits. Louis Varland and Brandon Little have been terrible lately and Yariel Rodriguez can't be trusted either. If the Blue Jays miss the playoffs entirely, Pete Walker needs to go.
• Offensively, Vlad drove in the only run on a sac fly. It's hard to win scoring only one run. The bats definitely cooled off with the all-star break.
• The Blue Jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
• The Yankees could close the gap to just 2 games if they win as expected tonight. The Red Sox lost so the Blue Jays remain 3.5 games ahead of them.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2 game skid and avoid being swept for the 5th time and 2nd season series sweep. Max Scherzer starts against Brewers righty Brandon Woodruff