Game #139 Toronto Blue Jays (68-70) @ Cleveland Guardians (69-68)

Game #138 - Seattle Mariners (64-73) @ Toronto Blue Jays (68-70) - game recap

 

Max Scherzer threw 7 shutout innings in a 7-0 shutout win over the Mariners

After a huge comeback win yesterday capped off by an Alejandro Kirk RBI singled and aided by 7 strong innings from Jose Soriano, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games, notch their 9th season series win and complete their second series sweep of the season. Max Scherzer got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Myles Straw was in LF, Brett Bateman was in CF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Ernie Clenent got the full daty of with Andres Gimenez at SS and Charles McAdoo at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games, notch their 9th season series win and complete their second series sweep of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Alejandro Kirk whacked a 2-run blast to left-center; also scoring Brett Bateman
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Myles Straw
• Logan Gilbert pitching line: 5IP 6H 3R (all earned) 1BB 4K 87 pitches (59 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Kazuma Okamoto hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 7IP 1H 0R 1BB 10K 97 pitches (67 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a pair of runs in the bottom of the 8th as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring George Springer and Nathan Lukes
• Three batters later, Bateman doubled scoring Okamoto
• Final score: Blue Jays 7 Mariners 0

My Take:

• Max Scherzer threw 7 shutout innings, giving up a hit, walking one and striking out 10, moving him past Gaylord Perry for 9th most career strikeouts in MLB history. For all the naysayers thinking Scherzer should hang them up, he still has a few bullets left in the legendary arm. This might have been Scherzer's best start in a Blue Jays uniform. He seems extremely motivated with the Blue Jays very much controlling their own destiny to snag the 3rd WC spot with series left against most of the teams they are battling for that one playoff spot. September is going to be a blast.
• The bullpen walked a batter and struck out 5 over the last 2 innings. Brayden Fisher retired every batter he faced.
• The offense today was led by Alejandro Kirk (2-run HR), Kazuma Okamoto (solo HR), Brett Bateman (RBI, run scored) and Andres Gimenez (2 RBI). It's nice to see the offense being spread around with better AB's lately. Vlad has 9 home games left to hit a HR at the Rogers Center
• Both teams were 0-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 4-10 with runners in scoring position.
• In terms of the WC race, the Blue Jays are 1.5 games back of the Guardians, who also won today for the 3rd WC spot. The Orioles (won today) are 1 game back of the 3rd WC spot. The Texas Rangers (won today) are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Twins (won today) are 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Mariners are 5 games back of the 3rd WC spot and the  Tigers (lost today) are 5.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot
• Up next, after an off-day/travel day tomorrow, the Blue Jays open their second-last road trip in Cleveland with the chance to take over the 3rd WC spot. The Blue Jays took the series in Toronto, outscoring the Guardians 15-13. Spencer Arrighetti starts against Guardians righty Gavin Williams Tuesday

Game #138 Seattle Mariners (64-72) v. Toronto Blue Jays (67-70)

 

Game #137 - Seattle Mariners (64-72) @ Toronto Blue Jays (67-70) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk drove in the game winning run in a 4-3 comeback win over the Mariners

After a solid win thanks to a team effort offensively and 6 strong innings from ace Dylan Cease, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 19th series win of the season. Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daz Cameron was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Brett Bateman was in RF. Ernie Clement was at SS and Charles McAdoo got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 19th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Cal Raleigh whacked a solo blast to right
• The Mariners added a pair of runs in the top of the 4th as Taylor Ward singled scoring Josh Naylor and Raleigh
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom of the 5th on a bases loaded walk to George Springer that forced in Myles Straw. Brett Bateman also scored on the play because ball 4 was a wild pitch by Eduard Bazardo that went to the backstop.
• Kade Andersob pitching line: 4.1IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 3K 85 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom of the 6th as Bateman singled scoring Charles McAdoo
• A batter later, Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Straw
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 7IP5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 6K 94 pitches (65 for strikes)
• Louis Varland threw a perfect 9th for his 31st save of the season.
• Final score: Blue Jays 4 Mariners 3

My Take:

• Jose Soriano fired 7 solid innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6. It's always tough when a start is delayed by a pregame ceremony and it showed early. Soriano was taken deep by Cal Raleigh in the 2nd inning and  he gave up 2 more runs in the 4th inning, but then kept the score where it was at. Soriano got stronger as the game went on and retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced.
• The bullpen threw 2 scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk and strking out 4. Closer Louis Varland looked sharp after a few days rest and retired the side in the ninth on a tidy 12 pitches.
• The offense get 'er done in the 5th, scoring a rare 2 runs on a wild pitch by Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo, who gave up the series winning HR in last year's ALCS to Springer, who drew the bases loaded walk. The next inning, Bateman came through again with a game-tying RBI single and Captain Kirk followed that up immediately with his own clutch base hit to give the Blue Jays the lead. It feels like Vlad may never hit a home run at the Rogers center ever again. It is unfathomable that he still hasn't gone deep at home. The weight of that contract must feel like an albatross right now.
• Alejandro Kirk was successful on both ABS challenges. The Mariners were 1-2 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 3-7 with runners in scoring position.
• In terms of the wild card race, The Blue Jays, Rangers (play later tonight) and Orioles (play later tonight) are all 1.5 games back of the Guardians (lost today) for the 3rd WC spot. If the Rangers and Orioles win their respective games, they will gain another half game over the Blue Jays. The Mariners and Twins (lost today) are both 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The Tigers (won today) are 4.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot. 
• Uo next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games, notch their 9th season series win of the seasion and complete their 2nd series sweep of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Mariners righty Logan Gilbert.

Game #137 Seattle Mariners (64-71) v. Toronto Blue Jays (66-70)