Game #9- Toronto Blue Jays (4-5) @ Chicago White Sox (4-5) - game recap

 

After another loss thanks to Brendon Little blowing another lead, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 2-game skid and avoid being swept for the first time this season. Little and righty Lazaro Estrada were optioned to AAA-ball. Lefty Joe Mantiply and righty Austin Voth were recalled from AAA-ball. Righty Cody Ponce and outfielder Anthony Santander were transferred to the 60-day IL. Eric Lauer got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Nathan Lukes was in LF and Addison Barger was in RF. Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and avoid being swept for the first time this season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st as Miguel Vargas tripled scoring Chase Miedroth 
• The White Sox added a run in the bottom of the 3rd as Lenyn Sosa doubled scoring Munetaka Murakami
• Eric Lauer pitching line: 2IP 3H 2R (both earned) 3BB 0K 49 pitches (26 for strikes)
• The White Sox added a run in the bottom of the 4th as Austin Hays singled scoring Luisangel Acuna
• Addison Barger left the game prior to the bottom of the 6th after injuring both ankles running the bases
• Davis Martin pitching line: 6IP 4H 0R 2BB 6K 85 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Chris Murphy pitched a scoreless 9th for his 1st save of the season
• Final score: White Sox 3 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Eric Lauer battled through 2 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out none. A valiant effort despite being very ill to the point where he was struggling to keep smoothies down. The pressure is now on Max Scherzer to giving the Blue Jays some length as they begin an early season test against the defending World Series champs LA Dodgers. Could Lauer be asked to throw from the bullpen on Wednesday?
• The bullpen gave up a run on 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over the last 6 innings. Joe Mantiply retired every batter he faced. If he keeps pitching like that, he'll earn some opportunity in higher leverage situatiions.
• The offense contnues to sputter early on. George Springer (.158 average) is hitting himself out of the leadoff spot. Daulton Varsho, in a contract year, hitting .172. The Blue Jays batters aren't showing the patience at the plate they had last year or hitting the good pitches they were  in 2025. 
• And the injury bug continues to strike early and often. This time, Addison Barger hurt both ankles running the bases. Here's hoping the flight back doesn't cause any swelling.
• The Blue Jays were 0-6 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, an early season test in a rematch of last year's world series. The Dodger won the regular season series, outscoring the Blue Jays 18-7. Max Scherzer starts against Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski

Game #9 Toronto Blue Jays (4-4) @ Chicago White Sox (3-5)

 

Game #8 Toronto Blue Jays (4-3) @ Chicago White Sox (2-5)

 

Game #7- Toronto Blue Jays (4-3) @ Chicago White Sox (2-5) - game recap

 

Andres Gimenez hit a 2-run HR in a losing effort as the White Sox came from behind to walk-off the Blue Jays in 10 innings

After a rainout pushed back the opening road game to good Friday, the Blue Jays were looking to open the Easter long weekend with a win. The White Sox and Blue Jays split the season series last year with the Blue Jays outscoring the White Sox 25-19. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF, Daulton Varsho was in CF and Addison Barger was in RF. Could the Blue Jays start the Easter long weekend with a win? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The White Sox opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a fielding error by Dylan Cease on a ball hit by Miguel Vargas that scored Chase Meidroth
• Grant Taylor pitching line: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K 9 pitches (all strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied it in the top of the 2nd as Alejandro Kirk doubled scoring Addison Barger
• The White Sox retook the lead in the bottom of the 3rd as Austin Hays singled scoring Vargas and Colson Montgomery
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 4.1IP 5H 3R (2 earned) 3BB 6K 93 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays tied the game in the top of the 8th as Andres Gimenez whacked a 2-run blast off the right foul pole; also scoring Ernie Clement
• The Blue Jays took the lead in the top of the 10th on a throwing error by Vargas on a ball hit by George Springer that scored Davis Schneider
• Alejandro Kirk left the game in the bottom of the 10th after hurting his thumb on a foul tip off the thumb side of his glove
• A batter later, the White Sox tied the game on a throwing error by Tyler Heineman on a ball hit by Derek Hill that scored Derek Hill that scored Vargas
• A batter after that, Tristan Peters singled home Hill\
• Final score: White Sox 5 Blue Jays 4 (10 innings)

   My Take:

• Dylan Cease battled through 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 6. He was battling in and out of jams all day. It was suggested online that windy conditions may have affected the slickness of the ball. Two problems with that theory. First, Cease was a White Sox starter for 5 seasons and did pretty well. Second, the White Sox were playing under the same conditions with the same ball and held the Blue Jays to 3 runs on 8 hits and a walk.
• The bullpen gave up 2 unearned runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6 over the last 5.1 innings. You have to feel for Jeff Hoffman who had to contend with 2 catchers after Alejandro Kirk was forced to leave the game mid-at-bat after taking a deflected ball off his left thumb. While he struck out the current batter, a cold Tyler Heineman threw a ball into LF and a batter later, Trisatan Peters doinked a nice pitch into RF. Two blown saves, but this was not Hoffman's fault. Nice to see Brendon Little pitch a clean inning after a rough start to the season. Here's hoping this leads to more competent outings.
• Here's hoping the x-rays come back negative on Kirk's thumb because the Blue Jays can ill-afford to lose their captain behind the plate for very long.
• Offensively, the bats are still largely cold. No disrespect to Andres Gimenez, but when he is leading the team offensively, there is cause for concern. The Blue Jays need Vlad and George Springer to come through with their bats. Addison Barger and Daulton Varsho also need to contribute.
• The Blue Jays were 1-9 with runners in scoring position. 
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid in what is expected to be a bullpen game for both teams with Mason Fluharty and Grant Taylor serving as the openers.

Game #7 Toronto Blue Jays (4-2) @ Chicago White Sox (1-5)