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)

Game #136 - Seattle Mariners (64-71) @ Toronto Blue Jays (66-70) - game recap

 

Kazuma Okamoto drove in 3 runs, including a solo HR in an 8-1 rout over the Mariners

After a beat-down yesterday due to a bad day for the pitchers and the offense doing nothing yet again, the Blue Jays were looking to start the weekend with a win as they welcomed the Seattle Mariners to town. The Mariners took the series in Seattle back on the 4th of July long weekend, outscoring the Blue Jays 15-2. Simeon-Woods Richardson, who was a disaster yesterday, was DFA'd. Righty CJ Van Eyk was recalled from AAA-ball. Ace Dylan Cease got the start with Brandon Valenzuelsa behind the plate. Jesus Sanchez was in LF and Brett Bateman was in CF. Andres Gimenez was at SS and  Ernie Clement got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays start the weekend with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Dominic Canzone whacked a solo blast to right-center
• The Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half of the inning as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled scoring Brett Bateman
• Three batters later, Guerrero Jr. scored on a sac fly by Kazuma Okamoto
• A batter later, Andres Gimenez singled scoring George Springer
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 5th as Nathan Lukes belted a solo jack to right
• Two batters later, Springer hammered a solo bomb to the 2nd deck in left
• Emerson Hancock pitching line: 5IP 8H 5R (all earned) 0BB 1K 67 pitches (49 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Okamoto whackeda solo blast to left
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 6IP 4H 1R (earned) 1BB 8K 92 pitches (56 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Myles Straw singled scoring Lukes
• A batter later, Okamoto singled scoring Springer
• Final score: Blue Jays 8 Mariners 1

My Take:

• Dylan Cease fired 6 strong innings, giving up a run on 4 hits while walking 1 and striking out 8. Cease became the first pitcher since some guy named Randy Johnson in 2001 to have 19 consecutive starts with 7+ strikeouts. Cease has easily been the best starter in the rotation and should garner some Cy Young votes
• The bullpen held the Mariners to a hit and 3 walks while striking out 1 over the last 3 innings, None of the relievers retired every batter they faced
• Offensively, Nathan Lukes (2 runs scored, including solo HR), George Spinger (3 runs scored, including solo HR), Kazuma Okamoto (3 RBI, including solo HR) and Vlad (RBI, run scored) led the way
• The Mariners were 1-1 on ABS challenges. The Blue Jays didn't attempt an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 5-11 with runners in scoring position
• In terms of the wild card race, the Blue Jaus are 2.5 games back of the Guardians, who lost tonight, for the 3rd WC spot. The Rangers (lost tonight) are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot, the Orioles (leading the A's at the moment) are 2.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot, but will be 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot if they hang on to win tonight. The Twins (lost tonight) are 4 games back of the final WC spot, the Mariners fell to 5 games back of the final WC spot and the free falling Tigers are 5.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot.
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to make it 2 straight wins (and guarantee a season series splut) and notch their 19th series win of the season. Jose Soriano starts against Mariners lefty Kade Anderson

Game #136 Seattle Mariners (64-70) v. Toronto Blue Jays (65-70) AppleTV+ Exclusive

 

Game #135 - Kansas City Royals (60-75) @ Toronto Blue Jays (65-70) - game recap

 

George Springer hit a 2-run HR as the Blue Jays were pummeled 13-2 by the Royals

After a win thanks to a great bullpen day effort and a 3-run HR off the bat of Nathan Lukes, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 19th series win of the season. Michael Lorenzen was claimed off waivers from the Rockies. Jonatan Clase was transferred to the 60-day IL and Chad Dallas was optioned to AAA-ball. Spencer Arrighetti got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Daz Cameron was in LF and Myles Straw was in CF. Ernie Clement was at SS and Charles McAdoo got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays make it 2 straight wins and notch their 19th series win of the season? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Royals opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Carter Jensen hammered a solo bomb to the 3rd deck in right
• Four batters later, Bobby Witt Jr. scored on a fielder's choice hit by Salvaador Perez
• The Royals added a pair of runs in the top of the 2nd as Jac Caglianone singled scoring Witt Jr. and  Josh Rojas
• Spencer Arrighetti pitching line: 4IP 5H 4R (3 earned) 2BB 4K 79 pitches (49 for strikes)
• The Royals added a run in the top of the 6th as Kyle Isbel doubled scoring Rojas
• Two batters later, Witt Jr. doubled home Isbel
• A batter later, Caglianone singled scoring Witt Jr. and Jensen
• A batter after that, Vinnie Pasquantino whacked a solo blast to righ, also scoring Caglianone
• The Blue Jays got a pair back in the bottom half of the inning as George Springer hammered a 2-run bomb to desd center; also scoring  Alejandro Kirk 
• Noah Cameron pitching line: 6IP 6H 2R (both earned) 2BB 3K 81 pitches (55 for strikes)
• The Royals added a run in the top of the 8th as Pasquantino singled scoring Caglianone
• The Roysls added a pair of runs in the top of the 9th as Caglianone drilled a 2-run jack to the 2nd deck in right; also scoring Tyler Tolbert
• Final score: Royals 13 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Spencer Arrighetti batlled through 4 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned thanks to a fielding error committed by him) on 6 hits while walking 2 and striking out 4. The Blue Jays needed more out of him after another bullpen game yesterday. He's going to be a work in progress
• The rest of the bullpen gave up 9 runs on 11 hits while walking 4 and striking out 5 over the last five innings. None of the pitchers were particularly effective today.
• Offensively, George Springer broke the shutout bid with a 2-run HR in thhe 6th inning. Good that the home run jacket wasn't used given the score.
• The Blue Jays were successful on both their ABS challenges and the Royals didn't use an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays were 1-6 with runners in scoring position
• It was a missed opportunity to gain ground in the WC race. The Blue Jays are now 3.5 games back of the Guardians for the 3rd WC spot. The Orioles (also lost today) are 3 games back of the 3rd WC spot. The remaining teams in the WC hunt were idle today. The Rangers are 2 games back of the 3rd WC spot, the Tigers and Mariners are 4 games back of the 3rd WC spot and the Tigers are 5.5 games back of the 3rd WC spot
• Up next, a huge series against the Mariners, who took the series in Seattle 4th of July long weekend, outscoring the Blue Jays 15-2. Ace Dylan Cease starts for the Blue Jays. The Mariners haven't set their rotation for the series yet.