Game #124 New York Yankees (68-53) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-64) AppleTV+ Exclusive

 

Game #123 - Boston Red Sox (65-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-64) - game recap

 

Blue Jays reliever Brayden Fisher retired every batter he faced in a 7-0 shutout loss to the Red Sox

After pulling out another win thanks to a 5-run 8th inning rally and Louis Varland bailing out knuckleballer Matt Waldron, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 2nd sweep of the season and improve their record on my birthday to 22-23 and extend the winning streak on my birthday to 2 games. Brendon Little was put on the paternity list and Lazaro Estrada was recalled from AAA-ball. Max Scherzer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto was back in the field after DH'ing yesterday. Charles McAdoo was in LF and Nathan Lukes was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 4 games, complete their 2nd sweep of the season and improve their record on my birthday to 22-23 and extend the winning streak on my birthday to 2 games? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Red Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Willson Contreras doubled scoring Wilyer Abreu
• Max Scherzer pitching line: 5IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 92 pitches (61 for strikes)
• The Red Sox added 4 runs in the top of the 8th on a grand slam to left-center by Caleb Durbin that also scored Ceddanne Rafaela, Abreu and Masataka Yoshida
• The Red Sox added a run in the top of the 9th on a sac fly by Yoshida that scored Nick Sogard
• A batter later, Durbin singled scoring Rafaela
• Payton Tolle pitching line: 8IP 2H 0R 2BB 4K 91 pitches (61 for strikes)
• Final score: Red Sox 7 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Max Scherzer battled through 5 innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. Not the most efficient game, needing close to 100 pitches to get 15 outs when the bullpen is running on fumes. The veteran righty was able to pitch his way out of most of the jame he got into, keeping the Blue Jays within striking distance.
• Then there was the bullpen. Interestingly, John Schneider had Tyler Rogers warming up when the deficit was still one run and opted to go with the other sidewinder Chase Lee, who proceeded to give up a grand slam. Maybe Rogers was only available if the Blue Jays had a lead? Lazaro Estrada coughed up another couple of runs in the 9th inning. Certainly there are a couple of candidates to be demoted or DFA'd when Brendon Little returns from the paternity list and Paul Seward is activated tomorrow after being claimed off waivers yesterday.
• The offense was non-existent with some terrible AB's today. Charles McAdoo watched a middle-middle putch go by him for a strike and they did not work the count at all. Payton Tolle was averaging less than 10 pitches an inning most of the day.
• The Blue Jays squandered a great chance to gain a half game in the wild card standings with most of the teams in the race idle today. Instead, the Blue Jays fell back a half game.
• Brandon Valenzuela was 1-1 on ABS challenges. The Red Sox didn't atempt an ABS challenge today.
• The Blue Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position.
• Up next, the Blue Jays take on the Yankees as the home stand continues. The Yankees have won 4 of the first 7 games in the season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 29-26. Shane Bieber starts against Yankees righty Gerritt Cole

Game #123 Boston Red Sox (64-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-63)

 

Game #122 - Boston Red Sox (64-56) @ Toronto Blue Jays (59-63) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto scored twice and drove in a run as the Blue Jays hung on for a 6-4 win over the Red Sox

After prevailing over the Red Sox on the strength of a 2 RBI effort from Brett Bateman and a late clutch base hit off the bat of Myles Straw, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season. Righty Paul Sewald was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks. Righty Jake Bloss was added to the MLB roster and moved to the 60 day IL.  Jose Soriano got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto was back in the lineup as DH Street missing a couple of days with a sore knee. Jesus Sanchez was in LF, Myles Straw was in CF and Brett Bateman was in RF. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 15th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Ernie Clement singled scoring Kazuma Okamoto
• The Red Sox tied it in the top of the 5th as Willson Contreras whacked a solo blast to left-center
• Ranger Suarez pitching line: 5IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 2K 81 pitches (54 for strikes)
• Jose Soriano pitching line: 6IP  4H 1R (earned) 2BB 4K 90 pitches (63 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the bottom of the 8th as Okamoto singled scoring Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• Two batters later, Brandon Valenzuela was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Clement
• A batter later, Okamoto scored on a sac fly by George Springer
• A batter after that, Myles Straw doubled scoring Clement
• The Red Sox got one back in the top of the 9th as Caleb Durbin singled scoring Contreras 
• A batter later, Jarren Duran doubled scoring Wilyer Abreu
• A batter after that, Durbin scored on a sac fly by Andruw Monasterio
• Louis Varland got the last 2 outs for his 26th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Red Sox 4

My Take:

• Jose Soriano fired 6 solid innings,, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. One mistake pitch to Willson Contreras that went over the wall in left-center. Soriano faced the minimum through 3 innings and was bailed out by his catcher Alejandro Kirk, who gunned down Ceddane Rafaela at 3B on a wild pitch by Soriano. No question he'll be a huge part of the rotation in the coming years.
• The bullpen gave up 3 runs on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 1 over the last 3 innings. Mason Fluharty and Louis Varland, who had to bail out knuckleballer Matt Waldron after he struggled in the 9th inning with a 5-run lead.
• The offense exploded for a 5-run rally in the 8th inning. Kazuma Okamoto contributed with 2 runs scored and an RBI in his return to the lineup. George Springer came in as a pinch hitter and drove in a run with a sac fly.
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jays passed the Orioles and are 2.5 games back of the Texas Rangers for the 3rd wild card spot with the Tigers, Twins and Guardians in the way. All teams are idle tomorrow so the Blue Jays will gain a half game if they win tomorrow
• Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschmann was 2-1 on ABS challenges. The Blue Jays did not attempt an ABS challenge today.
• The Blue Jays were 4-11 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to make it 4 straight wins and complete their 2nd sweep of the season. Max Scherzer starts against Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle 
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Game #122 Boston Red Sox (64-55) @ Toronto Blue Jays (58-63)